County-wide burn ban now in effect

The Pony Complex fire, shown here, along with the Elk Complex fire burned more than 265,000 acres across northern Elmore County in 2013. Officials with the Idaho Department of Lands expects the fire outlook to remain at near-normal levels this summer.

Due to the worsening fire danger conditions in Mountain Home and surrounding communities, a county-wide burn ban took affect July 1.

A measure signed by the county commissioners earlier this week follows similar steps adopted by the Mountain Home Fire Department and Mountain Home Rural Fire Protection District that prohibit all open burning of yard waste and debris.

The restriction also bans the use of burn barrels, campfires, warming fires and the discharge of tracer rounds from various weapons.

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