CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA) — Burn bans are being lifted for some cities and counties in Central Illinois.
Christian and Moultrie counties are two of them and it’s all thanks to rain over the weekend.
Chris Wright, the Fire Chief in Sullivan, emphasized the need for caution even after the burn ban has been lifted, as dry farm fields are still prone to fires.
“The easiest fire that we fight is the one that we can prevent,” Wright said.
This is particularly significant for him, despite the burn ban being lifted in Moultrie County. He recalled an incident in his district that prompted the ban’s implementation.
“A controlled fire had spread quickly. It involved a structure and three vehicles,” Wright said.
He said that the dry and windy conditions sparked concerns, but things calmed down after this weekend.
“We’ve had favorable weather conditions over the weekend, with some rain, cooler temperatures,” Wright said.
A lifted burn ban isn’t the only positive thing that happened after the rain. Farmers are also grateful.
“It’s definitely a relief for us concerning the threat of field fires, so we’re appreciative of any improvement we can get at this stage,” stated Lucas Roney, Vice President of the Moultrie County Farm Bureau.
However, farmers still aren’t comfortable. Roney said that they’re nowhere near being out of drought conditions in Moultrie County.
“We could sure use a lot more,” Roney said as he talked about the rainfall.
He is still encouraging farmers to be diligent about what can cause field fires.
“Preventative maintenance is probably the best thing we can do to prevent some of these,” Roney said.
He’s not the only one that reminded people to be cautious.
“We still encourage using fire safe practices when you’re having recreational fires, which is a big thing in our district,” Wright added.
The WCIA 3 weather team advises against using fire as well. For updated information on dry conditions and potential rain, consider downloading the WCIA 3 weather app for the most recent updates.
