BRAZIL, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — On September 15, a burn ban went into effect in Clay County for at least one week.
The ban comes after several recent fires and drought-like conditions. The order prohibits open burning of any kind, unless it is a grill fueled by charcoal or propane. Clay Co. emergency management director Rob Gambill says that failure to follow the guidelines can not only cause danger, but serious financial consequences.
“You’re responsible for any fire that you start, so if that fire escapes and goes onto an adjacent property and burns a bean field for example, you are responsible for those costs that are incurred for that civil,” Gambill said. “You could face some major expense for that.”
For updates, visit the Clay Co. EMA Facebook page.
Excerpt from burn ban notice:
“We also declare that, effective immediately, the following activities are prohibited in Clay County:
1. campfires and other recreational fires, unless enclosed in a fire ring, with dimensions of 23 inches in diameter X 10 inches high or larger ;
2. 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;
3. The burning of debris, such as timber or vegetation, including debris that results from building construction activities;
Burning will be allowed in burn barrels with a ¼” mesh top from dawn to dusk only.
Charcoal from permitted grills shall not be removed from the grills until the charcoal has been thoroughly extinguished.
In addition, we discourage the personal use of any and all fireworks.”
