Sturgis, SD – The Meade County Commission met in emergency session today to initiate an immediate county-wide burn ban and fireworks restriction. Due to the extreme fire dangers that exist, we immediately institute a burn ban in Meade County, until it is deemed by the commission that conditions have improved. The Fireworks Restriction is effective immediately until July 5, 2012.

The restrictions are linked with the National Weather Service’s Grassland Fire Index. The Fireworks Ban is effective when the index reaches the very high or extreme category. The Fire Index changes daily depending on rain, temperatures, and humidity. The fire index may be found online at - http://www.crh.noaa.gov/unr/firewx/rfd.php

There are different definitions and regulations that are entailed within the open burning allowance which include details on fireworks, campfires, and other incendiary devices. Open burning is defined as a burn barrel, open fires such as a camp fires that are not contained within a fully enclosed box or structure. For more information please refer to the Meade County Ordinance NO. 27 - which can be found at www.meadecounty.org.