BROOKINGS — Open burning in Brookings County has been banned indefinitely after county commissioners voted 3-0 to declare a fire danger emergency at a special meeting on Thursday afternoon.

Commissioners Shawn Hostler, Kelly VanderWal and Larry Jensen approved the resolution, with commissioners Mike Bartley and Ryan Krogman absent. The decision came after news was received about dry conditions being expected to continue in the days and weeks ahead.

“After the last county commission meeting on Tuesday, I was contacted by Sheriff Marty Stanwick,” Emergency Manager Bob Hill said. “He said he had been contacted by the County Fire Chiefs Association, and that, looking at the weather for the next couple of weeks, that they had requested we implement a burn ban.”

Resolution #24-43, as it’s formally known, is separate from the county’s existing burn ban ordinance, which primarily focuses on red flag conditions as determined by the National Weather Service. It will remain in effect until it’s repealed by another vote of the Brookings County Commission.

Per wording in the resolution passed Thursday, “All open burning as defined in Ordinance #2009-02, without a prior written permit, is hereby prohibited within the boundaries of Brookings County, South Dakota, exclusive of any incorporated municipality within the county.”

— Contact Mondell Keck at mkeck@brookingsregister.com.