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(NewsDakota.com) Due to the dry warm conditions in the area and somewhat substantial winds blowing through Thursday, Dickey County Emergency Manager Charlie Russell announced that the county is teetering on the first outdoor burn ban of the year.

Russell says the county is currently going back and forth between the the very high and high categories on the fire danger index, and any ban that occurs is in effect until the conditions drop the category back to the high designation. Russell says for the first time this season, the burn ban was in effect Wednesday, but Thursday has seen the conditions near the edge of the requirements to issue a burn ban.

The best way to keep up with the daily fire danger index is to go to the National Weather Service Bismarck homepage under “fire weather”. The maximum penalty for open burning while a ban in is effect is 30 days in jail and $1000 fine.

For more information, call the Dickey County Emergency Management office at 320-6299.