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Adams County commissioners introduce immediate burn ban ordinance amid drought concerns
Summary
Commissioners introduced ordinance 2024-20 to prohibit open burning and fireworks immediately due to severe dry conditions; the ordinance was introduced and commissioners moved to adopt it pending publication and final signature next week.
Adams County commissioners introduced an ordinance on the record to impose an immediate ban on open burning and the ignition of fireworks in the county because of severe dry conditions.
County counsel read the short title and purpose of ordinance 2024-20, which would prohibit “open burning” — defined in the draft as igniting material on the ground, in a burn barrel, fire ring, fire pit, brush pile or other outdoor location — effective immediately until rescinded by the Board of Commissioners (Speaker 4). The draft ordinance cites Indiana Code 36‑8‑2‑4 as the legal authority for adopting public‑health and safety measures (Speaker 4).
Commissioners agreed to introduce the ordinance at the meeting and to have staff publish notice and present the ordinance for adoption next week after obtaining the required signatures (Speaker 5, Speaker 2). Staff and commissioners discussed the need to publish the ordinance before fines could be imposed, and that rescission would follow recommendation from the Adams County director of emergency management or fire chiefs when conditions improve (Speaker 5, Speaker 3).
No roll‑call vote to adopt was recorded in the transcript; the action taken at this meeting was introduction of the ordinance and a motion to proceed with publication and adoption on the next agenda subject to the clerk’s and Chairman Steve Bailey’s signatures (Speaker 2, Speaker 5).
