News From Terre Haute, Indiana

Local & Bistate

Discussion

Welcome to our online comments feature. We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean. We reserve the right to remove comments that are obscene, racist or abusive and statements that are false or unverifiable as well as posts that are attacking other users. Repeat offenders will be blocked. You may flag objectionable comments for review by a moderator.
comments powered by Disqus
June 16, 2012

Hoosier burn bans widen

Terre Haute more than 8 inches below year’s average rainfall total

Associated Press

--- — Dry conditions across much of Indiana have prompted more than a dozen counties to ban outdoor burning, and unless the state receives significant rainfall soon, some officials are thinking about extending the bans to July 4 fireworks.

Allen, Monroe and Vigo counties approved burn bans Friday, joining at least 12 other counties. (See related item, Page A1.)

Several others have implemented voluntary bans and are considering mandatory restrictions if conditions don’t improve.

Bloomington Township Fire Chief Faron Livingston asked the Monroe County Commissioners to approve a ban at their meeting Friday morning, The Herald-Times reported.

“It’s super, super dry right now,” Livingston said.

Bloomington’s rainfall this year is nearly 10 inches below average. The Terre Haute area is more than 8 inches below normal levels, and Indianapolis is 4 inches below average, according to the National Weather Service. Nearly 90 percent of the state is considered abnormally dry, and about 40 percent of Indiana is experiencing a moderate or severe drought.

The dry conditions have led to a number of brush fires in recent days, including one Thursday that briefly closed portions of Interstate 74 southeast of Indianapolis.

Carroll, Elkhart, Fulton, Grant, Knox, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Marshall, Noble, Steuben, St. Joseph, Vigo and Wabash counties also have imposed countywide burn bans, according to the Indiana Department of Homeland Security.

Allen County Commissioner Nelson Peters told The Journal Gazette that the panel decided to impose a ban for the next seven days because the county is already suffering a moderate drought and no significant rain is in the forecast.

The ban includes fireworks, campfires, bonfires and unpermitted controlled burns. It also prohibits residents from discarding cigarettes on the ground or in a receptacle that isn’t fireproof.

St. Joseph County hasn’t seen significant rainfall since May 31, and firefighters have been called to numerous grass and brush fires in the last week. County commissioners say they won’t lift the ban until the area receives at least an inch of rain, and officials are starting to look ahead to the July 4 holiday.

St. Joseph County Commissioner Andy Kostielney told WSBT-TV that the county’s legal department is checking into whether fireworks fall under the burn ban. If not, commissioners could vote on a separate ban if conditions don’t improve.

Clay Territory Fire Marshal Dave Cherrone said the holiday is a busy time for firefighters even when conditions aren’t so dry.

“Every year, we always end up in St. Joseph County with a structure, whether it’s a garage or a house, that it ignited by wayward fireworks. So when you have the dry conditions in the grass like this, you’re just compounding the problem,” Cherrone said.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Local & Bistate
Latest News
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
TribStar.com Poll
AP Video
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge Wind Energy Push Leaves Trail of Dead Eagles Raw: Germany Protestors Picket Barbie House Horse Saved From Slaughter, Goes on to Win Big Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics Music Therapy Bonds Parents and Preemies Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday Tensions As Israel Targets Syria in Airstrikes Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting Raw: Spacewalking Astronauts Hope to Stop Leak Obama: 'Couldn't Be Prouder' of Jason Collins Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree Officials Arrest Man in Idaho in Terrorism Case Today in History, May 6th Raw: Child, Stroller Falls Onto Pa. Train Tracks
NDN Video
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country Coffee Stop Leads To Arrest Of YouTube Sensation Wanted For Murder Bearded Dragon Reunited With Owner Marine Reunited with Warzone Companion Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool Beyonce Is Pregnant! SF baseball player overpaid $500,000 RETURNS money -- and team says KEEP IT $1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest Dad returns from Afghanistan, surprises family during Rays' first pitch See Jennifer Lopez's New $10m Hamptons Mansion Woman tricked into taking abortion pill Emma Watson Goes Pantless IRS scandal: Republicans seek to tie Obama to agency's woes Play of the Day: Flipping to Safety Pregnant Kim Kardashian Squeezes Her Swollen Feet Into Stilettos Top Videos of the Week: Angry Taco Bell Guy, Glacier Moves on House, Dog Hates Baths Cindy Crawford Stuns At Cannes Raw: Marines Come to Obama's Aid in the Rain CUTE: Monkey shares lollipop with dog, then HITS pooch on head with it Miranda Kerr Looks Sexy in a Bikini Photo Shoot
Parade
Magazine
Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.
  • -

     

    March 12, 2010

activity
Real Estate News