FIRE CHIEF’S ORDER BANNING OPEN BURNING
Randolph County, Indiana
September 17, 2024
Attn: All residents and property owners located in the following areas of Randolph County, Indiana – including
the cities and towns of – Ridgeville, Union City, Saratoga, Winchester, Farmland, Parker City, Losantville, Modoc, and Lynn.
The fire chiefs responsible for fire protection in the above-described areas of Randolph County, Indiana, have determined that the lack of rainfall has created arid conditions, which significantly increase the risk and promote the rapid spread of fire;
Effective immediately, the following activities are prohibited in the above-described cities, towns, and townships:
1. Campfires and other recreational fires, unless enclosed in a fire ring;
2. Open burning of any kind using conventional fuel such as wood or other combustible matter, except for grills fueled by charcoal briquettes or propane;
3. The burning of debris, such as timber or vegetation, including such debris that results from building construction activities or clearing of vegetation for agricultural purposes;
4. Discarding matches, ashes, cigarettes, or other burning materials from a vehicle; and,
5. Fireworks and aerial firework devices.
Burning will only be allowed in burn barrels with a one-quarter-inch mesh top from dusk to dawn.
Charcoal briquettes from a permitted grill shall not be removed from the grill until the charcoal briquettes have thoroughly been extinguished.
This order does not prohibit the use of gas grills or charcoal grills used solely for the preparation of food, fires within fireplaces or non-combustible fire rings, or fires within incinerators permitted by state law as long as all such fires are closely attended while burning, sufficient fire extinguisher provisions are maintained and the fires properly and thoroughly extinguished.
This ban on open burning will remain in effect until sufficient rainfall is received to relieve hazardous conditions adequately. It will be reviewed weekly.
Those found to violate this order may be fined and billed by the fire department and possibly subject to additional criminal penalties.
