Marion County is among 16 Kansas counties with open burning restrictions in April.
No open burning for non-agricultural purposes, including the burning of vegetation and wood waste and structures, will be permitted in April in Butler, Chase, Chautauqua, Cowley, Elk, Geary, Greenwood, Johnson, Lyon, Marion, Morris, Pottawatomie, Riley, Sedgwick, Wabaunsee, and Wyandotte counties. This includes firefighter training burns and the burning in municipal tree dumps.
However, range, pasture, and conservation land may be burned.
The restriction is part of the Kansas Flint Hills Smoke Management Plan.
According to North Central District Environmental Administrator Jennifer Nichols, in 2010, following informal meetings and hearings by the Senate Natural Resources Committee, a formal Flint Hills Smoke Management Advisory Committee was formed to begin the task of developing a smoke management plan for the Flint Hills.
Some of the conditions that do not allow open burning include:
- When the surface wind speed is less than 5 mph or more than 15 mph.
- Within 1,000 feet of any occupied dwelling unless the owner of the dwelling has been notified.
- During nighttime which is two hours before sunset until one hour after sunrise.
- During inclement or foggy conditions or on extremely cloudy days.
- Burning that creates traffic or other safety hazard.
County residents must call the county dispatch at (620) 382-2144 to report open burning or controlled burns.
For more information, contact county environmental health director Tonya Richards at (620) 382-2945.