Public Notice – Parke County, Ordinance 2020-19, Burn Ban

ORDINANCE 2020-19

(Parke County

Board of Commissioners)

AN ORDINANCE CONCERNING COUNTY WIDE BURN BAN

 

WHEREAS, Parke County, Indiana is immediately threatened by or natural disaster-specifically county-wide  drought conditions, and; Whereas, as of September 21, 2020, we find our county to be at risk of widespread  fire hazards because of the ongoing drought conditions and;

 

WHEREAS, a county-wide burn ban affecting certain activities is an appropriate public safety response to the fire hazards  presented by the Current drought conditions;

 

Now, therefore, we, the Parke  County Board of Commissioners, declare, pursuant to the provisions of IC 10-14-3-29, that a state of emergency exists in the county and that  we hereby invoke and declare those  portions of the  Indiana Code which are applicable to the conditions and have caused the issuance of this proclamation, to be in full force and effect in the county  for the exercise of all necessary emergency authority  for protection of the lives and property of the  people of Parke County.

 

We also declare that effective immediately, the following activities are prohibited in Parke County:

 

 

1) campfires and other recreational fires, unless enclosed in a fire ring with dimensions of 23 inches in diameter X 6 inches high or larger;

 

2) open burning of any kind using conventional fuel such as wood, or other combustible  matter, with the exception of 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 and/or  wind storm debris; and

 

4) the use of burn barrels for any open burning at residential structures. Charcoal from permitted grills shall not be removed from the grills until the charcoal has been thoroughly extinguished.

 

In addition, we strongly encourage our residents to attend  public displays of fireworks and limit their personal use of fireworks to those that do not leave the ground, and that they refrain from using aerial firework devices, Reference is hereby made  to all appropriate  laws, statutes, ordinances and resolutions, and particularly to Section 10-14-3-29  of the  Indiana Code.

 

All public offices and employees of Parke County are hereby directed to exercise the utmost diligence in the discharge of duties required of them  for the duration of the emergency and in execution of emergency Jaws, regulations, and directives whether  state  or local.

 

Anyone violating this proclamation could be cited and fined up to five-hundred dollars {$500.00) per occurrence per day; or subject to criminal charges should a fire result in personal or property damage. All residents are called upon and directed to comply with necessary emergency measures, to cooperate with public officials and disaster services in executing emergency operations  plans, and to obey and comply with the lawful directions of properly identified officers. This burn ban shall be in force immediately and will remain in force indefinitely while drought conditions continue.

 

IN WITNESS, WHEREOF, we have set forth our hand this 21″ day of September 2020.

 

PARKE COUNTY BOARD OF

 COMMISSIONERS:

Jim Meece, Commissioner

Dan Collom, Commissioner

ABSENT, Bruce Hartman, Commissioner

ATTEST:

Laura Fischer

Parke County Auditor