Burn ban issued for Union County

A burn ban is in effect in Union County. The ban covers all outside burning.

The ban was issued Wednesday morning after a joint discussion involving all of the fire departments in Union County.

Conditions remain extremely dry in the Union County area.

Local weather observer Dana Cross recorded only .80 of an inch of rain during the month of September.

Anna Fire Department Chief Gary Rider said the burn ban will remain in effect until the area receives some much-needed rain.

Southern Illinois, Southeast Missouri and Western Kentucky have been experiencing unseasonably high temperatures and very dry conditions for some time.

Cooler weather is expected later this week. Rain is possible Saturday night and early Sunday.

A five-day forecast posted on the website for the National Weather Service office in Paducah noted an “elevated fire danger” for the region for this coming Friday and Saturday.