Tribune staff reports
Jackson County is under a burn ban until further notice.
On Friday, county commissioners issued an emergency proclamation for the burn ban because of the current drought conditions in the county.
Emergency proclamations are issued when a state of emergency exists in the county and there is a threat of a natural disaster. In this case, it’s countywide drought conditions.
The commissioners find the county to be at risk of widespread fire hazards because of the drought, according to the proclamation.
A countywide burn ban affecting certain activities is an appropriate public safety response to the fire hazards presented by the current drought conditions, according to the proclamation.
Following Indiana Code, these activities aren’t allowed during a burn ban:
•Campfires and other recreational fires, unless enclosed in a fire ring with dimensions of 23 inches in diameter by 6 inches high or larger
•Open burning of any kind using conventional fuel such as wood or other combustible matter with the exception of grills fueled by charcoal briquettes or propane
•The burning of debris, such as timber or vegetation, including such debris that results from building construction activities and/or windstorm debris
•The use of burn barrels for any open burning at residential structures
Charcoal from permitted grills should not be removed from the grills until the charcoal has been thoroughly extinguished.
The burn ban will remain in force until rescinded by the county commissioners.
According to the weather station at Brownstown Central High School, the area has received only 0.11 inches of rain this month.
On Friday, the high temperature was expected to be around 80 degrees in Seymour before dropping to the upper 30s overnight with an 80 percent chance of rain, according to the National Weather Service. Rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch were expected, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Today, there is a 20 percent chance of showers between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Then the next chances of rain are Tuesday and Wednesday.
A couple of large brush fires, each covering more than 5 acres, were reported near the Hoosier National Forest this week. Part of the forest is in Salt Creek Township in northwestern Jackson County.
During Friday’s incident around noon, four local departments responded to the area, said Duane Davis, director of Jackson County Emergency Management Agency.
There also have been reports of grass, field and woods fires this month in the county.