On Monday morning, the Barton County Commission signed another resolution extending the county-wide burn ban for another week.
Effective at noon Monday, open trash burning, campfires, and all open fires are prohibited. This state of emergency will be in force until noon , Monday, July 30, at which time it may be extended if weather conditions do not improve.
Drought conditions continue across Kansas and have been combined with three digit temperatures for the past week, said Amy Miller, the county’s emergency risk manager. The fire potential remains high at this time.
The U.S. Drought Monitor shows Barton County is in extreme drought conditions and those extreme conditions have moved eastward across the state. At the present time, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has declared a federal disaster in 82 Kansas counties. On July 20, Governor Sam Brownback requested that the USDA declare an additional 37 counties disasters and which would also make them eligible for USDA disaster assistance
Any questions concerning local burning, should be directed to the fire chief having jurisdiction of the area where the burning is to take place. The fire chief may or may not issue an agricultural burning permit.
Violation of this state of emergency may result in fines of up to $2,500.