Burn Ban in Perry County

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Du Quoin and Pinckneyville Fire Departments Wednesday invoked simultaneous burn bans as warm temperatures and brisk winds hit Southern Illinois.

Perry County Emergency Services director David Searby made the ban countywide.

Du Quoin Fire Chief Bob Shaw said his department responded to several outdoor fires.

Du Quoin firemen were called to 317 Winters Street at 9:26 a.m. Wednesday for a grass fire that spread from a brush fire.

Firemen were also called Wednesday to 8316 Cowboy Way off Davisville Road. A resident was burning a brush pile. The fire spread across the grass and into a neighbor's fence.

Firemen were also called to 756 North Lake Drive. The fire originated in the backyard at 762 North Lake Drive. Again, the fire spread from a backyard cleanup.

On Monday, firemen were called to 205 Juniper Road for the same reason.

Pinckneyville Fire Chief Jim Gielow issued the following statement Wednesday afternoon:

Due to the high winds and the fact that all the vegetation is very dry, the Pinckneyville Fire Department and Pinckneyville Fire Protection District has issued a burn ban until conditions improve and the threat of a fire getting out of control no longer exist.

This ban is for the City of Pinckneyville and the surrounding fire district. All citizens should refrain from any outside burning during these current conditions.