Due to what Pierce County Emergency Management Office called “abnormally dry conditions,” the office issued fire emergency declaration and burn bans in parts of Pierce County on April 5.

The text of the declaration said the ban does not include “the incorporated cities of Rugby, Balta, or Wolford.”

The declaration includes a ban on the use of fireworks, and covers “recreational burning, open burning (any burning that takes place in an unenclosed space – includes the burning of leaves, grass clippings, garbage and pits, construction debris, fallen trees, crop residue or hay land, sloughs, and bonfires).

The ban also applies to using fire to demolish structures.

The ban goes into effect “When the North Dakota Fire Danger Index is in the ‘High,’ ‘Very High,’ or ‘Extreme’ index and/or a ‘Red Flag Warning’ has been issued for Pierce County.”

The declaration does not “ban the use of grills or commercially sold enclosed fire pits, but it is required the grills or enclosed fire devices be on a hard, non-organic surface, and be a minimum of 15 feet away from any dry vegetation when the Fire Danger Index is ‘High,’ ‘Very High,’ or ‘Extreme.'”

“The use of fireworks is prohibited when the fire index rating is High, Very High or Extreme, or a ‘Red Flag Warning’ has been issued,” the declaration added.

The declaration also requires controlled burns within county limits to be reported to the Pierce County Law Enforcement Center by calling 776-5245 and “supplying the name of the responsible party, contact number, burn location along with any other requested information.”

The ban expires Oct. 31.

The declaration warned that persons violating the ban are guilty of a class B misdemeanor. “The maximum penalties for a class B misdemeanor are up to 30 days in jail and up to a $1,500 fine.”