Allen County Commissioners have extended the burn ban for another week.
The ban now includes tighter rules -- as the drought worsens across the state.
Under the extension signed by commissioners -- fireworks are banned unless you have a permit from the state.
Officials say the rules are all about safety.
One county commission says farm crops are finally starting to come up, and all it takes is one errant firework to burn an entire field.
Burn bans are now in effect in fifty three counties across Indiana.
Allen County Commissioners signed a seven-day extension to the current ban.
Commissioner Nelson Peters says fire officials and farmers asked for the extension.
"One cigarette butt, one misdirected firework potentially burns down four hundred acres of crop. He said, if you do that, that kills me," Peters says.
The extension also bans fireworks inside the county without a state-issued permit.
Peters says your big shows, like the city fireworks and festival shows, have permits.
But family fireworks in your neighborhood... not without a permit, unless the ban lets up next week.
One fireworks store owner says he's worried.
"So I guess it's all going to come down to how long that ban will last, how much rain we get, and where we're at at that point," says Half the Price Fireworks owner Ron Staessle.
Right now, it's not looking great, according to the national weather service.
Projections issued yesterday have us in a severe drought, with conditions worsening.
"Right now, it looks like there are some signals that are showing for us to continue the below-normal precipitation at least through July," says National Weather Service Meteorologist Nick Greenawalt.
Climate data for northeast Indiana says our wettest months historically are May, June and July.
This year's rainfall is well behind average-- over seven inches behind-- similar to droughts in 1999 and 1988.
A spokesperson for City Utilities says there is plenty of water in reserve, even if the drought doesn't end.
"We have a very large man-made reservoir at Hurshtown. We've never had to use it in the whole history of the time that it's been there. But it has several billion gallons of water stored," says Fort Wayne City Utilities spokesperson Mary Jane Slaton.
County Commissioners will look at another extension next Friday.
Peters says, if things don't improve, most fireworks in the city will never get off the ground.
Peters told me it's hard for fire departments to enforce the burn bans.
Since it is driven by complaints, many times the offenders are gone before fire crews can respond.
He says he has faith that people in Allen County will honor the ban.
The ban now includes tighter rules -- as the drought worsens across the state.
Under the extension signed by commissioners -- fireworks are banned unless you have a permit from the state.
Officials say the rules are all about safety.
One county commission says farm crops are finally starting to come up, and all it takes is one errant firework to burn an entire field.
Burn bans are now in effect in fifty three counties across Indiana.
Allen County Commissioners signed a seven-day extension to the current ban.
Commissioner Nelson Peters says fire officials and farmers asked for the extension.
"One cigarette butt, one misdirected firework potentially burns down four hundred acres of crop. He said, if you do that, that kills me," Peters says.
The extension also bans fireworks inside the county without a state-issued permit.
Peters says your big shows, like the city fireworks and festival shows, have permits.
But family fireworks in your neighborhood... not without a permit, unless the ban lets up next week.
One fireworks store owner says he's worried.
"So I guess it's all going to come down to how long that ban will last, how much rain we get, and where we're at at that point," says Half the Price Fireworks owner Ron Staessle.
Right now, it's not looking great, according to the national weather service.
Projections issued yesterday have us in a severe drought, with conditions worsening.
"Right now, it looks like there are some signals that are showing for us to continue the below-normal precipitation at least through July," says National Weather Service Meteorologist Nick Greenawalt.
Climate data for northeast Indiana says our wettest months historically are May, June and July.
This year's rainfall is well behind average-- over seven inches behind-- similar to droughts in 1999 and 1988.
A spokesperson for City Utilities says there is plenty of water in reserve, even if the drought doesn't end.
"We have a very large man-made reservoir at Hurshtown. We've never had to use it in the whole history of the time that it's been there. But it has several billion gallons of water stored," says Fort Wayne City Utilities spokesperson Mary Jane Slaton.
County Commissioners will look at another extension next Friday.
Peters says, if things don't improve, most fireworks in the city will never get off the ground.
Peters told me it's hard for fire departments to enforce the burn bans.
Since it is driven by complaints, many times the offenders are gone before fire crews can respond.
He says he has faith that people in Allen County will honor the ban.
