With no relief in sight, some fire and conservation officials across the region are imposing bans on outdoor burning until weather conditions improve.
When might that happen?
The National Weather Service forecast office in Springfield said there is a possibility of isolated thunderstorms early next week. Until then, hot and dry weather is expected through the end of the week.
Highs will be near 100 in many areas, with low afternoon humidity. That, combined with dry vegetation, creates an elevated fire danger.
So far, only Pierce City has issued a ban on the discharge of fireworks within its city limits. The ruling was issued by the fire chief on instructions from the City Council.
The discharge of fireworks will be permitted at a later date when conditions are more favorable.
Joplin fire Chief Mitch Randles has issued a ban on all outdoor burning and recreational fires within the city.
The ban does not include fully covered or enclosed grills, cookers or smokers.
Keith Stammer, spokesman for the Joplin Fire Department, said the ban is being issued in the interest of public safety in response to a continuing pattern of hot, dry and windy weather.
The Fire Department stresses that residents need to keep safety in mind as they handle fireworks today.
The ban will be lifted once the weather pattern changes and the city has received a sufficient amount of rain to reverse current conditions.
Burn bans are in place in many locations, and people who are planning open burning or fireworks displays should check with local officials to see if any restrictions are in place in their area, authorities said.
The fire departments in Carthage and Webb City have not issued bans on outdoor burning, but the Carl Junction and Redings Mill fire departments have issued bans. Jasper County officials declined to institute a burn ban on Tuesday, but officials in Newton County and Cherokee County, Kan., have imposed burn bans.
“We’re starting to get quite a few fires around the county that are unnecessary because of these conditions,” said Gary Roark, Newton County’s emergency management director.
“All of the fire chiefs (in the county) were in favor of doing this (burn ban) because they’re starting to get more and more fires, and it’s going to continue as long as this hot, dry weather keeps up.”
Roark said the ban does not apply to fireworks, but he said people should exercise caution when setting off fireworks. He also said it is important to keep a hose or water at hand to extinguish any small fires.
“What concerns us the most is (fireworks) that go up into the air and may land on a neighbor’s roof or in a field,” he said.
Anyone with questions regarding the burn ban may contact the Newton County Emergency Management Office at 417-451-4357.
Nearly half of all Kansas counties have declared burn bans until further notice. The Kansas adjutant general’s office said 45 of the state’s 105 counties have bans in place.
The Missouri Department of Conservation has issued a fire ban at all of its conservation areas. The ban prohibits campfires and other open fires, including charcoal grills. The state is permitting the use of contained camp stoves and charcoal cooking fires in concrete or metal fire rings. The use of firewood in cooking fires is prohibited under the fire ban.
“The fire ban is an effort to prevent wildfires under these extreme dry conditions,” said Ben Webster, wildland fire supervisor with the department. “The fire ban on all conservation areas will stay in effect until weather conditions change and we get significant rain.”
Webster also urges people to use caution when driving off road.
“Wildfires can start when fine, dry fuel, such as grass, comes in contact with catalytic converters on motor vehicles,” he said. “Think twice before driving into and across a grassy field. Never park over tall, dry grass or piles of leaves that can touch the underside of a vehicle.”
STAFF WRITER JOSH LETNER contributed to this report.
Prohibition
THE USE OF FIREWORKS is already prohibited in conservation areas under the Wildlife Code of Missouri.
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