Burn ban in effect in Cass County, Indiana through Nov. 5, 2024

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Last Updated on October 7, 2024 by Cass County Communication Network

SOURCE: Cass County Emergency Management Agency

See the Indiana Statewide Burn Ban Status Map.

At the October 7, 2024 regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners for Cass County, Emergency Management Agency Director Rocky Buffum reported on the field fires of the past 48 hours. Buffum also reported on forecast data, which at this time shows no substantive rain at least thru October 16.

Buffum further reported on a poll of Cass County Fire Chiefs, which indicated they were in favor of a burn ban based on current conditions as well as forecast over the next two weeks.

Based on the recommendations from the Emergency Management Agency and Cass County Fire Chiefs, as well as National Weather Service Forecast Data, the Board of Commissioners voted to put a burn ban in place for Cass County (Executive Order 2024-01).

The text of the Executive Order is below:

Cass County Commissioners’ Local Emergency Declaration and Burn Ban

Executive Order No. 2024-01

WHEREAS, all of Cass County and the townships and municipalities contained therein have suffered and are immediately threatened by severe and prolonged dry weather; and

WHEREAS, the various fire departments within Cass County have responded to an increasing number of brush fires and wildfires directly resulting from the dry weather conditions, prompting the chiefs of such departments to request a declaration for a county-wide “burn ban” during the current dry conditions; and

WHEREAS, Cass County Local Disaster Emergency Declaration Ordinance (Ordinance No. 2023-13, Ordinance No. 2024-16), authorizes the declaration of a local disaster emergency pursuant to IC. 10-14-3-29 resulting from disasters, including drought, posing an imminent threat of widespread or severe damage, injury, or loss of life or property as a result thereof; and

WHEREAS, the Cass County Board of Commissioners desires to declare a Local Disaster Emergency and the banning of open fires as provided herein.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Board of Commissioners of Cass County, after consultation with the Cass County Emergency Management Agency Director, hereby declare pursuant to IC 10-14-3-29 and the above Cass County Ordinance, that a Local Disaster Emergency exists in Cass County and therefore bans the following activities in Cass County until November 5, 2024:

  1. Campfires.
  2. Bonfires.
  3. Unpermitted controlled burns.
  4. Burning of yard and household trash.
  5. Burning of construction debris.
  6. Burning of organic debris.
  7. Discarding extinguished smoking materials of any kind on the ground or not within an enclosed fireproof receptacle.
  8. Non-commercial burning of material which is not contained in a barbecue grill, with a lid which is only opened periodically and constantly attended.
  9. The burning of any other open-air fires.
  10. Fireworks of any kind, except fireworks displays by an entity having a permit issued by the Office of the Indiana State Fire Marshall or displays sponsored by a Cass County municipality and supervised by a local fire department.

IT IS FURTHER DECLARED, that for the duration of the Local Disaster Emergency and Burn Ban all citizens of Cass County are called upon and directed to comply with the above emergency measures, cooperate with public officials, and obey the lawful directions of properly identified public officers in the enforcement thereof. Pursuant to IC 10-14-3-34, any person who knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly violates the provisions of this Local Disaster Emergency Declaration and Burn Ban consists of commission of a Class B misdemeanor.

The Cass County Emergency Management Agency Director is further directed to issue a fine of no less than $250.00 for each violation of this burn ban under the authority of Cass County Ordinance 2024-16.

This Declaration shall be given prompt and general publicity and forwarded to all newspapers in Cass County and shall be promptly filed in the Office of the Cass County Clerk.

DECLARED by the Board of Commissioners of Cass County, Indiana, on this 7 Day of October, 2024.

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