The Iroquois County Emergency Management Agency, Eastern Illinois Mutual Aid Fire Association in conjunction with the Iroquois County Board Chairman, John Shure, remind all Iroquois County residents:

A COUNTY WIDE BURN BAN REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE!

WATSEKA, ILLINOIS: The Eastern Illinois Mutual Aid Fire Association- which is comprised of all 21 fire
departments located in Iroquois County, along with County Board Chairman John Shure and the entire
Iroquois County Board, remind all Iroquois County residents that there is currently a burn ban in place across Iroquois County, this was agreed on by the Fire Chiefs of Iroquois County. The Fire Chief has the authority to issue a burn ban, pursuant with Illinois State Law (70 ILCS 705/8.20) directing everyone to refrain from any open burning, including landscape waste, agricultural waste, household trash, and garbage. Also included in this ban are any type of consumer fireworks. The Fire Departments can- by law, impose fines for violation of this burn ban, and will, after warning and extinguishing these fires, impose a fine of $100.00. Fines will double for the second violation. This ban will be in effect until further notice.

County Board Chairman John Shure said, “Due to the current extreme drought conditions throughout
Iroquois County, we are advising all citizens to refrain from any type of burning, including the use of consumer grade fireworks, until further notice. At the present time, conditions are very favorable for the outbreak of wildfires and other uncontrolled events. Any rainfall in the near future is not anticipated to have any effect on the drought conditions.” He continued, “The Fire Chiefs in the county, with the authority granted by Illinois Statute, have approved this burn ban to prohibit any type of burning including the use of consumer grade fireworks. This burn ban will remain in effect until drought conditions have abated sufficiently. Please direct any questions to the Fire Chief of your local Fire Protection District. On behalf of the County Board, the Sheriff, and all Elected Officials, I urge everyone to cooperate with the Fire Chiefs in this matter.”
Nobody wants to impose this burn ban, but much more importantly, fire departments do not want to have to extinguish your house- or your neighbor’s house, if it catches on fire.
Thank you all for your help making this a safe time for everyone in this drought-driven, dangerous time,
across Iroquois County.

Scott Anderson, Coordinator
Iroquois County Emergency Management Agency

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