Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Wildfire Prevention topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Rexburg enacts temporary burn ban through Sept. 30, suspends rules for immediate adoption
Summary
The Rexburg City Council adopted Ordinance 13‑54 on July 15, 2026, instituting a temporary open burn ban effective July 15–Sept. 30 amid extreme drought and a hot outlook; the measure, advanced by Fire Chief Corey Child, also restricts fireworks ignition while the ban is in place.
The Rexburg City Council voted July 15 to adopt Ordinance 13‑54, a temporary open burn ban in effect from July 15 through Sept. 30, 2026, and suspended the rules to consider the ordinance on third reading immediately.
Fire Chief Corey Child told the council the decision was driven by drought indicators and a heat forecast that put much of eastern Idaho into unusually dry and hot conditions. Child cited drought maps from the Boise Interagency Fire Center showing the county at D3 (extreme drought), said short-term fuel and weather indices were trending unfavorable and warned that even short periods of daytime rain would not change fuel moisture in heavier fuels. He also recounted resource costs from a recent desert wildfire — “the price tag is $600,000 that we spent on resources” — to underscore the risk and expense of large wildland fires.
The ordinance as considered restricts open flame burning and includes fireworks among the prohibited ignitions while the ban is in effect; Chief Child said the county’s recently enacted ban was stricter than routine restrictions and that neighboring jurisdictions had moved into restrictions or bans. The council recorded a roll-call vote on suspending the rules and considering the item as a third read; the motion passed and the ordinance was adopted that night.
Why it matters: the ban is a short-term public-safety measure intended to reduce the chance that escaped fires — including those from fireworks and unreported target shooting — become large incidents that endanger homes and require costly aerial and ground suppression. City staff said notice would be pushed to all public platforms and that Sugar City and other nearby jurisdictions are being asked to consider similar language.
Council action and next steps: after the presentation by the fire chief, a council member moved to adopt Ordinance 13‑54 and another moved to suspend the rules so the council could consider the ordinance on third reading. The suspension of rules passed on a roll-call vote; the council then considered and approved the ordinance. Staff confirmed the city will publish outreach about the ban and coordinate messaging with county partners.
Quote: “We suggested that we go into burn ban which is complete — no flames,” Fire Chief Corey Child said, stressing the current drought and hot forecast.
The council did not record any amendments to the ordinance at adoption. The ban is scheduled to remain effective through Sept. 30, 2026, unless lifted earlier by subsequent council action or modified by a future ordinance.
