Hot, dry weather sparks local fire fears

Van Wert independent/EMA information

The Van Wert County Board of Commissioners met with Van Wert County Emergency Management Director Rick McCoy Tuesday morning to discuss the intensifying drought. The fire dangers continue to escalate due to the lack of adequate rainfall, record-setting hot temperatures, low humidity and gusty winds. With the National Weather Service warning that drought conditions are likely to worsen, the commissioners and McCoy agree the public needs to be made aware of the threat, as well as some precautionary measures to take.

To date, 29 counties in Indiana — including the neighboring counties of Adams and Allen — have declared countywide “no burn bans”. McCoy said drought conditions are spreading into northwest Ohio, noting that Van Wert County is currently between 5½ to 6½ inches below normal on rainfall for the spring. He informed the commissioners that last week he had asked county mayors to consider town fire bans, and that Convoy and Willshire currently have done so.

“It will be up to their respective executive leadership, along with fire chiefs, in deciding whether to implement bans,” McCoy noted, adding that many towns have had legislation in place for years that prohibits burning without a permit. A fire burn ban would only cancel the option of obtaining a permit and remind people that burning is prohibited.

Temperatures running into the 90s and expected to continue, especially as summer is just beginning, plus low humidity values in the 20 to 40 percent range, spell possible fire problems for the county if some really big, prolonged rains don’t materialize, McCoy told the commissioners.

“We need to start looking at long-term effects if conditions don’t change and discuss the possibility that a County-wide ban could be forthcoming,” McCoy said.

The commissioners felt it was extremely important to remind the public the seriousness of the drought and precautions to take, and also wanted to make sure that, if the area gets to the point that a burn ban is necessary, local fire chiefs and township trustees are all on board with the decision.

County officials urged local residents to use caution and provided the following tips:

• Campfires should not be left unattended and should be enclosed in a fire ring.  Buckets of water should also be available to use should a fire start to get out of control or to extinguish a fire when leaving the site.
• Household trash fires in rural areas should be enclosed in a fireplace-like structure. Residents should avoid burning during windy conditions, should not leave fires unattended and have water available in case a fire gets out of control.
• The discarding of any lit cigarettes or other smoking materials from a vehicle window or by throwing them on the ground can easily ignite a fire. Enclosed fireproof receptacles should be used.
• Farmers should check fire extinguishers in combines and farm equipment and confirm they are fully operational, in the event of an equipment fire as wheat is harvested.

McCoy said that he and the county commissioners would review the drought situation with the National Weather Service weekly and determine if a fire ban is warranted, adding that the only restricted water usage currently in effect is in the Village of Convoy.

He also wanted to remind residents to use extreme caution in not getting overheated or dehydrated during the heat wave and to pay particular attention to our animals and pets as this weather can be particularly hard on them.