'Burn Ban' put in place for Marshall County Monday

UPDATE: After a good amount of rain fell over the weekend and Monday, many counties -- including St. Joseph, Kosciusko, Fulton, and Marshall -- have lifted their bans.

"The St. Joseph County Commissioners rescinded last weeks issued county wide burn ban today," said St. Joseph County Emergency Management Agency Director Al Kirsits. "Numerous Indiana counties are also doing this, including Marshall, Fulton and Kosciusko in our area. It should be noted that local enacted county and city ordinances banning burning are still in effect."

As of 3 p.m. on Sept. 24, La Porte, Starke, and Pulaski Counties still have burn bans in effect.

ORIGINAL: MARSHALL COUNTY, Ind. -- A ban on open burning in Marshall County went into effect around 1 p.m. Monday according to an announcement from the Marshall County Commissioners.

"Due to prolonged dry conditions, there is an elevated risk for fires to spread quickly and become out of control. Marshall County has already experienced a few grass fires recently, and the threat is expected to elevate in the coming days and weeks," said Marshall County Emergency Management Agency Director Jack Garner.

The order declares that, effective immediately, the following activities are prohibited in Marshall County:

• Open burning of any kind using conventional fuel such as wood, or other combustible material, with the exception of grills fueled by charcoal briquettes or propane (charcoal from permitted grill shall not be removed from the grills until the charcoal has been thoroughly extinguished)
• The burning of debris, such as timber or vegetation, including such debris that results from building construction activities.

Small campfires and fireworks, however, are permitted according to the Marshall County Commissioners. Larger fires are prohibited by the ordinance.

"If conditions improve due to significant rainfall, the Marshall County Commissioners will rescind the burn ban and again permit the above activities," Gamer said.

Updates will be posted to the Marshall County App and the Marshall County EMA Facebook page.