Pike County Officials Consider Burn Ban

Pike County Commissioners are considering a burn ban.

A new state law has more teeth on burn bans. It gives county commissioners the authority to issue orders. Violations would be a misdemeanor. The bans have to be approved by the state fire marshal and counties must meet federal classifications as being under severe, extreme or exceptional drought.

As of Thursday, the U.S. Drought Monitor ranked Pike County in the moderate category, but parts of Northeast Missouri are listed as severely dry.

Notification will be made if Pike County issues a burn ban. A similar order was issued during last year’s drought.