(La Porte County, IN) - Due to dry conditions, an open burning ban is now in effect for southern parts of La Porte County.  A 14 day ban was approved Wednesday by the La Porte County Commissioners at the request of local firefighters and farmers.

Commission President Connie Gramarossa said the ban is in effect in New Durham, Cass, Clinton, Noble, Hanna, Prairie and Dewey townships.  Cass-Clinton Fire Chief Jeff Mitzner said any open burning would pose a risk to dry crops waiting to be harvested, since it hasn’t rained much, if any, lately.

“It’s just a hazard out there right now to be burning things next to a corn field or a bean field.  It would go up pretty fast,” Mitzner said.

Gramarossa said the commissioners will decide whether to lift the ban or keep it in place at their next meeting on October 15th.