Vermont forestry officials say they are ordering a burn ban

Vermont forestry officials say they are ordering a burn ban following a string of wildfires over the past several days. It comes as cleanup is underway after a brushfire burned upwards of 16 acres in Ludlow Saturday afternoon. The fire broke out near East Lake Road where witnesses reported large columns of smoke. Authorities say dry conditions, wind, and steep terrain made it tough to fight the rapidly spreading blaze. After about 6.5 hours, crews had contained the fire. They spent most of Sunday cutting down burned trees and extinguishing hot spots. No one was injured and no structures were damaged. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation Monday issued an order for all of the state’s forest fire wardens to cease issuing burning permits until November 11.