The board of supervisors on Tuesday approved a burn ban for O'Brien County's unincorporated areas due to exceptionally dry conditions. The burn ban request was sent to the Iowa State Fire Marshal's Office for review and was approved.

The ban prohibits supervised burns without a permit in affected areas. Additionally, a burn ban for all of Clay County remains in place.

According to the order, "open burning constitutes a danger to life or property" during periods of extended dryness. The prohibition may only be rescinded after local officials notify the state fire marshal that conditions have eased.

Those who violate the ban will be subjected to a simple misdemeanor charge. The order does not prohibit a supervised, controlled burn that has been issued a permit by the fire chief of the fire district where the burn will take place, the use of outdoor fireplaces, barbecue grills, properly supervised landfills, or the burning of trash in incinerators or trash burners made of metal, concrete, masonry or heavy one-inch wire mesh with no openings greater than one square inch.