Lawrence, Kansas - On July 8, 2015, Home Rule Resolution No. HR-15-7-3 was passed by the Board of County Commissioners. This resolution changed the process of burn bans in unincorporated areas and was necessary to promote fire safety and to protect persons and property from the dangers of open burning. After feedback from the community, Douglas County Emergency Management and the Douglas County Fire Chiefs provided recommended changes to the resolution which were approved by the County Commission on March 29, 2017. These changes included removing wind speed as an automatic determination to prohibit burning. While burning will still be prohibited during Very High, Extreme or Red Flag categories of the Rangeland Fire Index; the revised resolution includes verbiage that open burning may be prohibited when a local determination is made by the County Administrator or his/her designee that a threat to the area exists or due to any other variables that could affect fire burning. The full resolution is published on the County Webpage.

In addition to the revised resolution, Douglas County Emergency Management will update a Burn Hotline by 8AM each day. Individuals wishing to burn in the unincorporated areas of Douglas County should call 785-832-5394 to determine if burning will be allowed or prohibited. If burning is allowed, that burn should be called into the Douglas County Dispatch Center at 785-843-0250 or to their local township fire department.