(La Porte County, IN) - A ban on open burning is in effect in La Porte County in response to concerns expressed by farmers about the potential for their tinder dry crops from lack of rain catching fire.

 

Cass-Clinton Fire Chief Jeff Mitzner, who raises livestock along with corn and soybeans to feed his animals, is asking the public to take the open burning ban seriously.

 

Mitzner said extreme heat or a spark from a bad bearing on a combine while harvesting or even a lit cigarette butt flicked out of a moving vehicle could lead to a major farm field or brush fire in conditions he hasn’t seen this dry in about 20 years.

 

“A 10 mile an hour wind would spread a field fire pretty very fast right now because of the dryness,” he said.

 

The open burning ban passed Wednesday night by the La Porte County Commissioners is in effect until October 2 but could be extended if the drought like conditions don’t improve.

 

“It’s going to take more than just one rainfall to get us back to where we need to be,” said Commissioner Joe Haney.

 

Mitzner agreed, saying even a good soaking rain wouldn’t have much, if any, positive impact right now .

 

“The ground is going to suck up the water so fast it will not even know that it rained,” he said.

 

Mitzner said harvesting from dust created by combines always carries some degree of fire risk to farmers and their fields.

 

Usually, only the machines catch fire when a spark ignites the clouds of tiny organic particles created from the cutting and shredding combines do to separate corn and soybeans from the plants.

 

This year, Mitzner said the clouds of plant material will be heavier and much drier, increasing the risk of a flash-like fire a farmer could get caught in before they have a chance to jump off the harvesting machine.

 

“That’s how dry it is,” he said.

 

He advised farmers to pay special attention this harvest season for any sparks flying off their combines so they can respond quicker to any help they might need.

 

“A lot of times the farmers don’t even know they’re throwing sparks out from behind the combine and they don’t realize it until they get to the end of the field.  By that time, it’s already too late and the field is already up in flames,” he said.