Shannon Portillo, Chair of the Board of Douglas County Commissioners, has signed a burn ban for March 9-15 for the unincorporated areas of Douglas County. She authorized the ban following recommendations from Douglas County Fire District Chiefs. Following several days of responding to multiple grassfires, county firefighters need the opportunity to recover and repair equipment.

The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. today (March 8) for Douglas County, which means outdoor burning is prohibited because critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, dry fuels and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior. Any fires that develop will be very difficult to control and will likely spread rapidly.

Additionally, the Rangeland Fire Danger Index has Douglas County listed in the “extreme fire danger” category today. This means that fires can start quickly, spread furiously and burn intensely. All fires are potentially serious and all outdoor burning should be avoided.

As long as conditions meet the Douglas County Outdoor Burning Resolution guidelines, burning will be allowed on March 16.

According to Douglas County Emergency Management records, 2015 was the last time a seven-day burn ban was issued.