Dukes County has issued a ban on outdoor open flames until Nov. 22 due to a statewide drought.

With no precipitation on the horizon, the Dukes County Fire Chiefs Association issued a statement about the new fire limitations.

Alex Schaeffer, the Edgartown fire chief and president of the Dukes County Fire Chiefs Association, said that outdoor fire pits, chimneys, candles and cooking equipment, including grills, all pose a risk.

“If we get complaints from people about someone using [an open flame] outdoors, those will be considered a fineable offense,” Mr. Schaeffer said.

Along with the ban, Island fire departments will no longer be accepting permit requests for outdoor fires. Burning yard waste is already prohibited across Massachusetts through Jan. 15.

Roughly 200 Massachusetts municipalities have imposed a ban on outdoor open flames according to the Dukes County Fire Chiefs Association.

“While the state averages 15 to 20 fires a month in October and November each year, local fire departments have reported more than 500 fires since October 1, 2024,” the statement from the Dukes County Fire Chiefs Association read.

The association said a majority of these fires have started with human activity. In addition to the ban, Island fire chiefs are encouraging other precautionary measures, such as unplugging electrical equipment after use and clearing dry leaves and low hanging branches from personal property.

“We just want to make sure people are cognizant about what they’re doing,” Mr. Schaeffer said. “We have a little different humidity here, over on the cape and Islands, but that doesn’t make us immune to fires.”