Drought conditions increase fire concerns - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Fires remain a big threat because of the dry conditions in Indiana and there's growing concern that things could get worse.

A fire in a field prompted a call to 911 from a man driving in Columbus.

"There's, like, flames going up all around the grass, around this building," the man said.

It was the kind of call fire crews said they expected when someone throws a burning cigarette into grass when its as dry as its been. In just minutes, half an acre was up in flames near railroad tracks along Indianapolis Road.

"In minutes," said Columbus Fire Chief Joel Thacker. "This is so dry that an improperly discarded cigarette, any other type of spark or flame, is going to take off."

"If it's windy, it's going to go fast," said Deputy Fire Chief of Operations David Dwyer

With the U.S. Drought Monitor map showing 90 percent of the state abnormally dry and 40 percent in the midst of a moderate drought, Tippecanoe County has announced a voluntary burn ban. Others are at least looking at the possibility of one.

"The forecast is not favorable, so that's something maybe within the next week we're going to be seriously looking at," said Thacker.

The big concern now, say fire departments, is the up coming 4th of July holiday. What happens if it stays this dry and you have people all over setting off fireworks that can reach upwards of 2,000 degrees?

"It could go on your neighbor's house, in a field somewhere and start a fire," said Ross Brinkotter, who sells fireworks at a temporary stand.

Fireworks businesses realize any kind of burn ban that kicks in before the 4th could put a damper on their sales.

"Considering 4th of July, around that time period, is some of the only times that you can light off fireworks," said Brinkotter.

Even without a burn ban, though, Brinkotter offered advice to anyone setting off fireworks to celebrate the upcoming holiday.

"You definitely need the brush cleared away," said Brinkotter. "I also keep a running hose right next to me. If I have a fire extinguisher, definitely use one of those and keep it nearby."

With no rain predicted in the near future, fire crews said they were ready to get more emergency calls like the one in Columbus, alerting them to a brush fire that was spreading.

There are already six Indiana counties with active burn bans: Carroll, Marshall, Noble, Steuben and Wabash Counties, as well as a local burn ban in Grant County, affecting residents in Marion. There's a voluntary burn ban in Tippecanoe County. Kendallville in northeast Indiana is also under a burn ban.

In far southwestern Indiana, a severe drought is under way in areas where rainfall is running about 10 inches below normal for the year. Vanderburgh County farmer Chris Winiger says his corn and soybeans are suffering and he's praying for rain.

Associate state climatologist Ken Scheeringa says that unless significant rain falls within two weeks, farmers could see reduced yields and the risk of field fires will spread.

See which counties are under drought conditions.