09/11/2025
The Washington County Commissioners have issued a County-Wide Burn ban:
DISASTER EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION
WASHINGTON COUNTY, INDIANA
BURN BAN
Date: 09/11/2025
WHEREAS, Washington County, Indiana is immediately threatened by a natural disaster-specifically county wide drought condition, and,
WHEREAS, as of the 11th day of September 2025 at 11:15 hours we find that Washington County to be at risk of widespread fire hazards because of ongoing drought conditions and.
WHEREAS a county wide burn ban affecting certain activities is an appropriate public safety response to the fire hazards presented by the current drought conditions.
NOW THEREFORE, we, the Washington County Board of Commissioners, declare, pursuant to the provisions of IC 10-14-3-29, that a state of emergency exists in the County and that we hereby invoke and declare those portions of the Indiana Code which are applicable to the conditions and have caused the issuance of this proclamation, to be in full force and effect in the County for the exercise of all necessary emergency authority for protection of the lives and property of the people of Washington County.
We also declare that effective immediately, the following activities are prohibited in Washington County:
1. Campfires and other recreational fires, unless they are enclosed in a fire ring with dimensions of 23 inches in diameter X 10 inches high or larger; in a cleared area.
2. Open burning of any kind using conventional fuel such as wood, or other combustible matter, with the exception of grills fueled by charcoal briquettes or propane. Charcoal from permitted grills shall not be removed from the grills until the charcoal has been thoroughly extinguished.
3. The burning of debris, such as timber or vegetation, results from building construction activities.
In addition, we strongly encourage our residents to attend public displays of fireworks and limit their personal use of fireworks to those that do not leave the ground, and that they refrain from using aerial firework devices.
Reference is hereby made to all appropriate laws, statutes, ordinances, and resolutions and particularly to Section 10-14-3-29 of the Indiana Code.
All public offices and employees of Washington County are hereby directed to exercise the utmost diligence in the discharge of duties required of them for the duration of the emergency and in ex*****on of emergency laws, regulation, and directives whether state or local.
All residents are called upon and directed to comply with necessary emergency measures, to cooperate with public officials and disaster services forces in executing emergency operations plans, and to obey and comply with the lawful directions of properly identified officers.
All operating forces will direct their communications and requests for assistance and operations directly to the Emergency Operations Center.
This Disaster Emergency Proclamation shall be in effect until September 19, 2025. At that time the Washington County Board of Commissioners shall revisit the emergency to decide if the need for extension of the emergency proclamation is necessary.
IN WITNESS, WHEREOF, we have hereunto set our hand on this 11th day of September 2025.
WASHINGTON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS:
