INDIANAPOLIS -
The recent rain has meant an end to many of the countywide burn bans in Indiana, but around 39 counties - including Marion - are still under a ban.
See an updated list here.
Marion County also has a watering ban in effect. Citizens Water says the watering ban isn't going to end anytime soon, and the Indianapolis Fire Department says the same thing about the county's burn ban.
Although we have seen a lot of green come back to trees, bushes and grass, the fire marshal says there is still a lot of dry brush susceptible to fire. Although the rain has helped, it has not helped enough. The only burn ban lifted close by is in Hancock County.
Citizens Water says we won't see that ban lifted unless we get more consistent rain, although some surrounding areas have already done so.
"Some surrounding counties that may be lifting the ban have much fewer customers than we do. They have a much smaller area so for them to lift the ban may not be as significant impact on their load or their system," said Sarah Holsapple, Citizens Water.
The drought is a major concern for Citizens Water, fearing the water supply being depleted by people trying to save their grass.
"We would need for the reservoir levels to rise six inches to a foot in order for us to consider lifting the ban," Holsapple explained.
Despite Indianapolis' burn ban still in effect, we found one resident in his backyard burning trash.
"Steven" didn't want to talk on camera at first but eventually explained the fire and what he was burning.
"Boxes, because it is too many. We moved. They just accumulate from stuff that you moved," he said.
Steven is hoping for only a warning if he gets caught, but there are serious fines for the violation.
"We are coming into the hot season where it gets even hotter and what we don't want to do is have to do a burn ban again. It's easier to leave it in effect than to rescind it and put it back into effect again," said Fred Pervine, fire marshal, Indianapolis Fire Department.
The burn ban includes no open burning, but you can use your grills at home. The watering ban means no use of sprinklers, although you can still water by hand with a hose or watering can. Violators could face fines.
Pervine says the burn ban isn't going away anytime soon.
"Here in Marion County there is still a lot of brown and there is still a lot of dry foliage," he explained.
Amanda Pisconski's yard is green again after being yellow. Her family only watered to save their trees.
"This was a nice full tree at the beginning of summer and now it's the most sparse now," she said.
Questions and answers on the watering ban
Despite the burn ban, WTHR found an Indianapolis resident burning boxes in his backyard.
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