By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. —
Four farmers could face potential punishment for violating the county's burn ban Tuesday.
"There were four cases that were forwarded to the District Attorney's Office, Reno County Sheriff Darrian Campbell said Wednesday. "They probably haven't seen them yet, but they're on their way."
Those farmers are trying to keep on schedule with their prescribed burning. Fire authorities and Emergency Management director Adam Weishaar are concerned about a potential shortage in resources if a fire would get out of control while firefighters are responding to COVID-19 calls and otherwise attempting to limit their face to face interaction with the public.
"The burn ban is in effect until April 28th," Weishaar said. "I know there were several questions yesterday whether CRP is exempt from that. CRP is not exempt. It's a burn ban across the board. The only thing that is exempt is fires that are in fireproof containers with a cover over them that would adequately block sparks coming off of those fires, ceremonial fires and cooking fires."
Campbell said all of the burns were in different fire districts and that his office typically only goes out once the fire department has been called.