No hot dog roasts allowed until a significant amount of rain falls across Bourbon County, and no burning trash. However, outside cooking in covered barbeque grills is allowed.
“It’s unfortunate,” said Delwin Mumbower, Bourbon County Fire District #3 Chief said. “My grandkids would like to have a weinee roast. But the conditions are not right.”
Mumbower asked for and received authorization by the Bourbon County Commission last week to ban all open burning in the county, until a significant amount of rain falls to make conditions less a threat to fires getting out of control.
The City of Fort Scott has already implemented fire restrictions in the city.
The rural fire districts must haul their own water to sites of fires.
“We have to haul water, there are very few fire hydrants in the rural areas,” he said. “There is a concern for the fire districts in the area that once a fire is started, in these extreme dry conditions, a fire is difficult to control.”
The biggest pumper truck they have holds 2,300 gallons, he said.
“Road ditch fires, unexplained fires, are rare except in exceptionally dry times,” Mumbower said. “The last two weeks there have been five unexplained fires.”
There is a concern, for the fire districts in the area, that once a fire is started in these extreme dry conditions, of their ability to control the fire.
There has been little rain since June and the last two months have had above normal temperatures, which has brought the conditions the county faces.
The willful violation of this burn ban, is a misdemeanor and punishable by law, according to the ban the commissioners put in place.
To view the burn ban: