Local fire officials say conditions too risky for recreational fires

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - It's been several days since most of central Illinois has gotten rain and it's putting many people at risk. The area is experiencing a perfect storm of fire conditions: high winds, dry ground and air, and harvest season.

"The crops are or just any kind of vegetation out in the country is drier than it normally is," said Jeremy Mitchell, Deputy Fire Marshal for the Champaign Fire Department. "A small fire, whether it's in a field or in your yard or even in your home right now ... can grow into something that's going to be unmanageable."

Mitchell explained that once fires start spreading in these conditions, they have a lot of dry brush and leaves to help them keep burning. Even a controlled, small fire in your backyard can quickly get out of hand.

"The general rule that we have and we abide by is the 25ft rule, we don't want a structure within 25ft of a campfire," said Toby Jackson, Deputy Chief of Fire Prevention for the Decatur Fire Department. "With the wind conditions like this, it can exponentially get worse by seconds. With the dry conditions that we have and the embers that might be floating in the air could start a structure on fire."

These conditions may impact the Halloween season as well. If you celebrate with a bonfire with friends, you should skip it this year. Another tradition, lighting up a jack-o-lantern with a candle, should be skipped as well. The wind could tip your pumpkin over, or blow something into it, which could cause a fire to start spreading.

"Postpone your recreational fires right now," said Deputy Chief Jackson. "Now is not a good time to do this, to have those fires. Other people can be put at risk."

Mitchell said it will take several days of rain to make fires safe again. Even if it rains on Halloween, he recommends checking the social media of your local fire department or National Weather Service to make sure fire warnings have been dropped for your area.