drought

The McLean County Emergency Management Agency [EMA] said the chance of field fires is reduced as most farm fields have been harvested and some are tilled.

Mt. Hope-Funks Grove Fire Chief Eric Fulk has ordered a ban on open burning through Oct. 23 due to ongoing dry weather conditions.

Bloomington and Normal have both returned to their former policies concerning recreational fires.

Heading into the last weekend of summer, the Bloomington-Normal area has had rain one time in the last month, according to data from state climatologist Trent Ford. The lack of rain has led to moderate drought for nearly all of McLean County.

Emergency managers in McLean County have implemented a county-wide ban on open burning until Friday, Sept. 26 because of an increased fire risk.

Illinois state climatologist Trent Ford said Bloomington received less than one inch of rain in September, making it the fourth driest since recordkeeping began in the 1890s. October is currently on pace to rank as the driest since 1964.

State climatologist Trent Ford with the Illinois State Water Survey said, as of Wednesday morning, the Town of Normal has received 4.3 inches of rain since April 1. Only 1992 was drier, said Ford.