According to an announcement made on October 31st by the Pulaski County Emergency Management Agency, the county is still in a burn ban.
Pulaski County burn ban remains in effect
La Porte County extends burn ban, adds Lincoln Township
With dry conditions still posing a fire risk, La Porte County officials have decided to keep the county’s outdoor burn ban in place for now, and expand its area.
Continue readingPulaski County Institutes Immediate Burn Ban
Pulaski County Emergency Management has shared the following announcement:
DISASTER EMERGENCY DECLARATION
PULASKI COUNTY, INDIANA
October 1st, 2025
WHEREAS, Pulaski County, Indiana is immediately threatened by a natural disaster- specifically county wide drought conditions, and/or other weather-related issues such as wind, etc. and:
WHEREAS: as of the 1st day of October 2025 at 1600 hours we find that Pulaski County is at risk of widespread fire hazard because of the ongoing drought conditions and:
Continue readingStarke County Commissioners Extend Burn Ban
The Starke County Commissioners have extended the county-wide burn ban due to prolonged dry conditions.
Continue readingStarke County Commissioners Reinstate Burn Ban
The Starke County Commissioners have reinstated the county-wide burn ban due to prolonged dry conditions.
Continue readingStarke County Commissioners Issue Burn Ban
The Starke County Commissioners, with recommendations from the Emergency Management Agency and local fire departments, have issued a burn ban for Starke County effective immediately for the second time this Fall season.
Continue readingPulaski County Commissioners Issue Burn Ban
The Pulaski County Commissioners have issued a burn ban for the second time this Fall season.
Continue readingPulaski County Commissioners Lift Burn Ban
The Pulaski County Commissioners have made the decision to lift the county’s burn ban.
Continue readingStarke County Commissioners Terminate Burn Ban
The Starke County Commissioners have terminated the countywide burn ban, effective immediately.
Continue readingPulaski County Commissioners Issue Burn Ban
The Pulaski County Commissioners have issued a burn ban.
The Pulaski County Commissioners signed a disaster emergency declaration where they found that Pulaski County is at risk of widespread fire hazard because of ongoing drought conditions.
Continue readingStarke County Commissioners Issue Burn Ban
The Starke County Commissioners, with recommendations from the Emergency Management Agency and local fire departments, have issued a burn ban for Starke County effective immediately.
Continue readingBurn Ban Lifted In Starke County
The Starke County Commissioners have once again lifted the county’s burn ban.
The recent rains have improved conditions and residents are now allowed to safely burn debris, but must follow the county’s burn ordinance which states what people can and can not legally burn. A copy of this ordinance can be found here.
State Police Remind Hoosiers To Be Wary Of Burning Butts
The entire state of Indiana is under severe drought conditions and the Indiana State Police would like to remind Hoosiers that most of the counties are under burn bans, including Marshall and Starke counties.
The state police warns that if a driver throws a lit cigarette, cigar, match or other burning material from a moving vehicle, they will face a Class A Infraction. Those objects can start a large fire if thrown from a vehicle while traveling, especially in these drought conditions. A littering infraction may also be issued.
Troopers will be looking for this type of activity while out on routine patrol. They ask that drivers take these statutes under consideration while on the highways and county roads.
Burn Ban Still On In Starke County
The burn ban in Starke County has once again been extended for two weeks, this time to be reevaluated on Aug. 6 at the commissioners’ regular meeting at 9 a.m.
Campfires, other recreational fires unless enclosed in a fire ring at least 23 inches across and ten inches high, open burning of any kind except grills, and the burning of debris are prohibited. Burning is, however, allowed in burn barrels with a one-quarter inch mesh top from dawn to dusk.
The commissioners and EMA Director Ted Bombagetti will review the conditions and decide whether or not to continue the burn ban at their next regular meeting.
Burn Ban Reinstated In Starke County
Effective as of noon yesterday, the Starke County Commissioners have reinstated the burn ban due to an increase in fire activity and increasing drought conditions. Campfires, other recreational fires unless enclosed in a fire ring at least 23 inches across and ten inches high, open burning of any kind except grills, and the burning of debris are prohibited. Burning is, however, allowed in burn barrels with a one-quarter inch mesh top from dawn to dusk.
This will be in effect until July 16, when the commissioners and EMA Director Ted Bombagetti will review the conditions and decide whether or not to continue the burn ban.
Starke and Pulaski counties had previously lifted their burn bans on July 2, joining four counties in the state at the time that reported their bans as lifted. While Starke County has reinstated the ban, the Pulaski County Commissioners have not yet made the decision to do so. Their next meeting will take place on Monday, July 16, when they will review the current conditions and decide what course of action to take regarding their burning policy.
No Fires Reported Over Holiday For Starke, Pulaski Counties
Despite the controversy regarding Pulaski and Starke counties’ recent decisions to rescind their burn bans, no fires were reported on Fourth of July in either county.
The Starke County Sheriff’s Department reports that while they had no fire calls on the holiday, they did receive a number of noise complaints because of the fireworks. Overall, it was a safe Fourth of July for the county. No fires and no serious injuries were reported, and the Starke County fireworks celebration went off without a hitch.
Starke, Pulaski Counties Lift Burn Bans
The Starke County Commissioners approved a motion repealing the county-wide burn ban on Monday, putting an end to the ban that lasted three weeks, from June 18 to July 2. Storms that had tore through the area last weekend had brought moisture back to the parched summer weather, alleviating some concern of fires caused by the dry conditions.
North Judson-Wayne Township Fire Chief Joe Leszek discouraged the commissioners from lifting the ban so soon, but the commissioners were also pressured by others to lift the ban in light of the recent rains. A motion was approved to lift the ban with the possibility of reinstatement in the future, and Starke County Commissioner Kathy Norem says they will carefully monitor the situation in case conditions worsen.
Starke County Burn Ban To Be Reevaluated Today
The Starke County Commissioners will discuss the burn ban during their regular meeting this morning at 9 a.m. The current ban expires today.
Despite the ban, the county’s fireworks celebration will proceed as scheduled. Starke County Commissioner Kathy Norem confirmed that the event will be held at the Starke County Airport on Wednesday, July 4, regardless of the status of the ban.
Fireworks Displays May Fizzle Out In Marshall County
Public fireworks displays in Marshall County are in jeopardy, as the disaster declaration for the county has prohibited the launching of consumer fireworks. Marshall County Emergency Management Agency Director Clyde Avery says the decision as to whether or not to allow public fireworks displays to take place this year will ultimately fall on the shoulders of the county commissioners.
Avery says one jurisdiction has decided to move forward with their fireworks display this year, so Avery will meet with the commission president to reevaluate conditions and decide whether or not to allow the fireworks show. Legally, fireworks are not supposed to be launched until today, according to state statute – but Avery says they’ve always had a problem with people discharging fireworks before they’re legal.
La Porte Officials Remind Residents That A Burn Ban Is In Effect
A burn ban has been in effect in La Porte County since June 15, a fact that La Porte City Fire Chief Andy Snyder and City Police Chief Adam Klimczak say is due to dry conditions that have created a threat to the lives and property of the people of La Porte County. The ban will remain in effect until further notice.
While the ban is in effect, residents are prohibited from lighting campfires, bonfires, and unpermitted controlled burns. This includes the burning of yard waste as well as construction and organic debris, and the lighting of fireworks is also prohibited. The ban also prohibits the discarding of unextinguished, smoking materials of any kind on the ground or anywhere not within an enclosed fireproof receptacle.
