Just days after Monroe County Emergency Management issued a no burning order for Monroe County due to a rash of field fires caused by outdoor burning, St. Clair County Emergency Management have also issued a county-wide “Ban of Open Burning”, effectively immediately, lasting until April 1st. The order reports that St. Clair County fire departments have responded to over 200 brush-related fires in the month of March alone, which has taxed resources.

As a reminder, Monroe County is still under a no burning ban, effective to March 28th.

Below is the full text of the notice. You can also click on the image to the right.

St. Clair County Emergency Management Executive Order 2014-1

March 23, 2014

Ban of Open Burning in St. Clair County

Effective Immediately

After consulting with local emergency responders, St. Clair County Emergency Management Director has requested St. Clair County Board Chairman issued an Executive Order banning all open burning, with the exception of recreational fire pits and cooking devices, within St. Clair County until no earlier than April 1, 2014. At that time, the conditions will be re-evaluated and a decision made on when open burning can resume.

Local fire departments have responded nearly 200 brush related fires in the month of March within St. Clair County. These fires have caused damaged to multiple structures, vehicles, and other property belonging to county residents and businesses. Along with that, these fires have taxed the resources of our local emergency response agencies to maintain manpower, fuel, equipment and other needed resources to be used in the extinguishment of these fires.

The National Weather Service has issued multiple red flag days in which burning is not recommended due to the conditions, however, citizens have ignored those recommendations and chose to burn. Those choices have led to the damage mentioned above and have forced County Board Chairman Mark Kern, Sheriff Richard Watson and Emergency Management Director Herb Simmons to issued Executive Order 2014-1 banning open burning within St. Clair County.

This decision is being made to protect the property of the citizens of St. Clair County along with safety of our First Responders.

Any questions, contact Emergency Management Director Herb Simmons – 618-719-1034