Clark County issues burn ban, recreational fires allowed

All land clearing and residential burning in Clark County is banned until further notice, effective Tuesday, July 1.

Due to increasingly dry conditions, Fire Marshal Donna Goddard is rescinding all burning permits issued before the ban. Permits can be reissued or extended once the ban is lifted. Burning restrictions do not apply to federally managed lands, a Clark County news release stated.

“With no precipitation in the forecast, increasing temperatures, and out of an abundance of caution, open burning in Clark County will be closed until further notice,” Fire Marshal Donna Goddard said in the news release. “This does not restrict recreational fires at this time.”

Recreational fires are still permitted. Campfires on forest lands are allowed only in designated campgrounds, such as commercial campgrounds and local, county and state parks. Fires on private land are permitted when built according to the following regulations:

• Must be contained in a metal, stone, or masonry-lined fire pit
• Cannot exceed 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height
• Must be at least 25 feet away from structures and 20 feet from overhead fuels
• Must be continuously attended by a person age 16 or older, with tools to extinguish the fire

Portable outdoor fireplaces designed to burn solid wood should not be operated within 15 feet of a structure or combustible material and must always be used according to the manufacturer’s instructions, the news release stated.

Recreational fires must be completely extinguished by covering them with water or moist soil, then stirred with a shovel until cool to the touch.

For the latest updates on Clark County fire bans, call the Fire Marshal’s Office at 564-397-2186 or visit shorturl.at/WcEW1.