Dearborn County, IN – Residents across Dearborn County are now under a countywide burn ban following a vote by the Board of Commissioners. The restriction, effective immediately, will remain in place until formally lifted by county leaders.
According to the Dillsboro Volunteer Fire Department, commissioners approved the measure after consulting with local fire chiefs, the majority of whom supported the ban. Officials cited a lack of rainfall, high temperatures, and dry vegetation as conditions that increase the risk of wildfires.
Under Dearborn County Ordinance § 96.01(B), the ban prohibits several activities:
- Campfires or recreational fires unless contained within a fire ring at least 23 inches wide and 10 inches high.
- Open burning of wood, debris, or other combustible materials, except for cooking grills powered by charcoal or propane. Charcoal must be fully extinguished before disposal.
- Burning of debris such as timber, vegetation, or construction waste, unless placed in a burn barrel with a quarter-inch mesh top, and only between dawn and dusk.
- Consumer fireworks, as outlined under Indiana Code § 22-11-14-10.5.
Violators could face fines between $200 and $1,000, plus court costs.
County officials urged residents to comply with the order, warning that even small sparks can spread rapidly in current conditions. The ban will be lifted once commissioners determine fire risks have lessened.
