The City of Danville has issued a burning ban as drought conditions worsen. The ban took effect at 8:00 a.m. today (Thursday, June 22, 2023) and will remain in place until further notice.
The ban does not apply to charcoal or gas grills used for cooking, although extra safety precautions should be taken.
Danville Fire officials are recommending individuals avoid using personal fireworks because of the drought conditions.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor for Illinois which was released this (Thursday) morning, our area is experiencing severe drought conditions, in addition to a high fire danger index rating. The current and future weather forecast models include conditions that are not favorable to open burning.
The latest drought monitoring maps from the National Weather Service show Vermilion, Iroquois, Ford, and most of Champaign counties are now experiencing severe drought conditions. Fountain, Warren, Benton, and the north half of Vermillion County Indiana are also experiencing severe drought conditions. The southern half of Vermillion County, Indiana and southwestern Champaign County are listed in the moderate drought category.
