October 11, 2024, Press Release from the Ohio State Fire Marshal: Columbus, Ohio – Working in collaboration with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon has issued an order lifting a Ban on Open Burning that was initially ordered on Sept. 6, 2024, in response to extremely dry conditions in much of the state. While drought conditions persist in parts of the state, the onset of moderate fall temperatures and atmospheric conditions and recent sustained rains that have fallen across the state have provided enough moisture to create a significant and sustained reduction in wildfire fuel loads during the first part of October.

It is not a shock that it has been very dry lately. According to the Drought Monitor issued on September 26th, all of west-central Ohio is in at least moderate drought with severe drought to the north and southeast of Lima. Extreme and exceptional drought has ravaged much of central and southeastern Ohio. On Friday, I traveled to the Auglaize County Ohio State University Extension Office in Wapakoneta where I was told that topsoil conditions are not great.

Heavy rain over the past few days have resulted in flooding along area rivers and creeks. On Tuesday afternoon just northwest of Arlington, the Eagle Creek at County Road 24 in Hancock County was running quite high and spilling out of its banks. Water from the creek spilled into nearby fields resulting in at least several inches of water. The fast moving water nearly touched the bottom of the bridge. At this particular location, the roadway was not covered in water.