10/08/2026
🚨 JOINT STATEMENT – BURN BAN 🚨
Richland County & Lawrence County, Illinois
**EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY**
The Fire Chiefs of Richland County and Lawrence County are issuing a BURN BAN effective immediately due to extremely dry conditions and a significant increase in field, brush, and trash fires.
**ALL OUTDOOR BURNING IS PROHIBITED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.**
This prohibition includes, but is not limited to:
• Field and agricultural burning
• Brush and leaf piles
• Trash and debris burning
• Recreational/open burning
• Any other outdoor burning that could result in an uncontrolled fire
Current conditions are allowing fires to spread rapidly and unpredictably. Recent fires have placed an increased demand on local fire departments and created an unnecessary risk to homes, farms, crops, property, and firefighters.
The Fire Chiefs strongly urge all residents to take this Burn Ban seriously and refrain from any outdoor burning until the ban has been officially lifted.
Do not assume conditions are safe because an area appears calm. Dry vegetation can allow fire to spread quickly, particularly with wind.
The Burn Ban will remain in effect until conditions improve and the Fire Chiefs determine that outdoor burning can safely resume.
Residents are asked to cooperate fully with this temporary restriction. Your cooperation can prevent a small fire from becoming a major incident.
This includes the following fire districts:
Noble Wakefield FPD
Olney Fire Department and FPD
Claremont Bonpas FPD
Christy FPD
Bridgeport FPD
Lawrence Allison FPD
(FPD= Fire Protection District)
Respectfully,
Richland County Fire Chiefs
Lawrence County Fire Chiefs
If you observe a fire that is spreading, unattended, or out of control, call 911 immediately.
