Because of dry, windy conditions that have prevailed recently, the county commission voted Friday to ban almost all outdoor fires.

A violation of the burn ban is a misdemeanor punishable in court by up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine.

Specifically, the commission banned:

“1. Careless use of smoking materials, including cigarettes, cigars, and smoking pipes. Discard shall be in a manner to preclude threat from smoldering remains.

“2. Building, maintaining, attending, or using an open fire or campfire except in permanent stove or fireplaces or barbecue grills in developed recreation sites or residential lawns.

“3. Burning of all fencerows, fields, pastures, grasslands, ravines, trash and debris, except that trash and debris may be burned in permanent stoves or permanent enclosures.

“4. Using welding and/or torch equipment without fire protection equipment on site.”

The ban was initially approved for one week, but on Monday commissioners voted to extend it until Feb. 10.