Contact:

• Travis Cooper, Director of Emergency Management for Sebastian County at 479-783-3932
• Steve Hotz, County Judge at 479-783-6139

Effective immediately, County Judge Steve Hotz, has enforced Sebastian County's Ordinance No. 88-13 banning outdoor burning of trash, debris, brush, and all other materials during this period when conditions are extremely dry. Lawns, fields, and wooded areas are exceptionally dry and the flash point for outdoor fires is unusually low. Without any significant rain, conditions will continue to dry out vegetation and spread fire more quickly.

Judge Hotz stated that for the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the County, all outdoor burning is banned until such time as relief from the hazardous dry weather situation is provided.

Compounding the hazard of low flash point are the factors of built in, self-producing wind from open fires during this type of weather situation which cause extreme difficulties in containing and controlling outdoor fires as well as the hazard and threat to life for those attempting to control and extinguish the flames.

Those who violate the restriction will be prosecuted in compliance with the County Ordinance 88-13 and will be subject to a fine of not less than $25.00 or more than $300.00.

We solicit and appreciate the support of everyone during this time and would request additional caution and good judgment be used by smokers and that smoking material be extinguished in an ash tray or safe container rather than be discarded along our roads and highways.

We urge all citizens to work together to protect the lives and property, themselves, their families, and neighbors. The bum ban will stay in existence until sufficient rain has reduced the fire hazard. 

For updates and status of burn bans, please check in with dispatch at the River Valley Communications Center at 479-709-5100 or 479-783-1051 option #1.