Osage County Sheriff Chris Wells issued a burn ban for all of Osage County effective yesterday afternoon, Thursday, April 1, 2021; it will remain in effect until rescinded. Northeast Kansas remains under a fire weather watch today through early Saturday due to low relative humidity values and high wind gusts.

The National Weather Service in Topeka issued a fire weather watch in effect Friday afternoon through Friday night. South winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph are forecast, with minimum relative humidity values between 20 and 25 percent. Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. A fire weather watch means that critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur. Outdoor burning is not recommended.

The Osage County burn ban suspends all locally issued burn permits and prohibits outdoor burning.

For more information about the local burn ban, contact the Osage County Sheriff’s Office at 785-828-3121.