Burn ban in effect for Cass County through Oct. 20, 2025

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Last Updated on October 3, 2025 by Cass County Communication Network

CASS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
LOCAL EMERGENCY DECLARATION AND BURN BAN
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 2025-01

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. 2023-16, 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 declares pursuant to IC 10-14-3-29 and the above Cass County Ordinances, that a Local Disaster Emergency exists in Cass County, Indiana and therefore, effective 7:00 a.m. October 4, 2025, bans the following activities in Cass County, Indiana, until October 20, 2025 at 2:00 p.m.

  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.

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.

With consultation of the Fire Department having jurisdiction, the Cass County Sheriff’s Department and the Town Marshalls of Walton, Galveston and Royal Center, Indiana, and Emergency Management Agency Director will issue a fine of no less than $250.00 for each violation of this burn ban under the authority of Cass County Ordinances 2023-16 and 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 3rd Day of October, 2025

Ruth Baker, President
Michael W. Stajduhar, Vice President
Mike Deitrich, Commissioner

ATTEST:
Alicia Pifer, Auditor

Filed in Cass Circuit Court
October 3, 2025
3:22 P.M.
Debby Kiely, Clerk of the Cass Circuit Court

SOURCE: News release from Cass County Emergency Management Agency

Resources for more information:

Cass County Ordinance 2023-16 Open Burning Regulations: Ord.-23-16-Open-Burning-Regulations.pdf

Indiana Burn Ban Map: DHS: Burn Ban Map

Indiana Department of Environmental Management Info Card: PressOpen Burning Postcard_RESIDENT__nocardbrd

National Weather Service Drought Information Statements: Drought Information Statement

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