Clinton County is now under a “burn” ban until further notice, following an executive order signed last week by Clinton County Judge/Executive Ricky Craig.

Judge Craig issued the order last Thursday evening, September 19, signing it during the monthly meeting of Clinton Fiscal Court.

The order states:

“It is hereby ordered that due to excessive dryness and fire hazard conditions, pursuant to KRS Statute, I hereby issue a “no outside burn order” county wide, effective immediately, banning all open burning in all areas of Clinton County.

“This order includes the lighting of fireworks and burning of any materials outdoors.

“A lack of rain in recent weeks has produced dry conditions in area grasslands and woodlands, lawns and shrubbery, which poses an increased risk of damage from wildfires, caused by open burning.

“It is hereby ordered that this ban be effective immediately, and will be lifted by order, after sufficient rainfall to abate the hazardous conditions.

“Kentucky Revised Statute provides for penalties for violations of not less than $50 or more than $500.”

Judge Craig, during last week’s fiscal court meeting, noted the state Division of Forestry would issue a statewide burning law that takes effect October 1 and will run through mid-December. The state burn law prohibits outdoor burning, during normal years, for certain time periods throughout the day, such as only in the early evening hours.

With the extreme dry weather and abnormally high temperatures experienced thus far during September, the “no outdoor burn ban” will persist until conditions allow the total no burn ban to be lifted.

Clinton County is one of several counties in the state that is now under a similar no burn law.

During last week’s court meeting, the court actually voted, on a motion by magistrate Jerry Lowhorn, to recommend judge Craig to sign an executive order putting the burn ban in effect.

Outdoor fires in the county have been reported since the ban was put into place but no major structure or woodland fires have occurred as of press time.