Planning to burn a brush pile or fence row? Not so fast.
As of 3 p.m. Monday, Kosciusko County is under a burn ban, meaning that nearly all burning is prohibited until at least Oct. 11.
Fire chiefs from throughout the county approached the Kosciusko County commissioners and requested the ban due to extreme dry conditions in the area.
"We are trying to be proactive," said Kevin McSherry, Burket fire chief.
All open burning is temporarily banned, as is the burning of debris, fence rows, side ditches or brush piles. Agricultural burning is also prohibited by the ban.
Charcoal or propane grilling is allowed, but all charcoal should be put out completely before it is removed from the grill.
Campfires and other recreational fires are only allowed if they are contained in an enclosed fire ring that is larger than 23 inches wide and 10 inches higher. According to the Disaster Emergency Proclamation issued Monday, "Burning will be allowed in burn barrels with a 1/4-inch mesh top from dawn to dusk only." The proclamation also urges county residents to refrain from using fireworks during this time.
The ban is in accordance with Indiana Code 10-14-3-29, which defines a local disaster emergency. The ban will be re-evaluated throughout the week.
Currently, 50 other Indiana counties have enacted countywide burn bans, while six others have local burn bans in effect. Most of those bans are in the southern part of the state, with the exception of Wabash County. Kosciusko County is one of three northern Indiana counties with the burn ban.
According to the National Weather Service Office in Indianapolis, "the Indianapolis Airport has experienced the longest dry spell in 47 years."
The National Weather Service predicts that the weather will remain dry through the early part of October, increasing drought conditions and fire hazards.
