Burning bans could impact area fireworks

LANSING - Extremely dry weather has prompted burning bans throughout the Lansing area and could put July 4 fireworks celebrations in jeopardy.

Fire officials in dozens of area communities this week banned open burning until the region gets some relief from a month-long dry spell. And that could be awhile, based on current forecasts.

"It's just been too dry, and there's no relief in sight, not for the next week anyway," Mason Fire Chief Kerry Minshall said on Monday. "If you look at the 10-day forecast, you can see something for Thursday (of next week). Right now, it's not looking good."

The National Weather Service said showers and thunderstorms are likely early Friday, with less than a tenth of an inch of rain expected in the region. Dry conditions are expected over the holiday weekend . Fire officials said the area needs soaking rains to significantly reduce the risk of wildfires, and some of them warned that July 4 fireworks celebrations could be postponed if conditions don't change.

Burning bans are in effect in Lansing, East Lansing, Mason, Leslie and Dansville, as well as the townships of Meridian, Delhi, Lansing, Alaiedon, Vevay, Leslie, Aurelius and Onondaga in Ingham County. Bans are also in place for communities covered by the Northeast Ingham Emergency Services Authority and the Stockbridge Area Emergency Services Authority.

• Interactive map: Check the “dry” levels for fire danger in Michigan.

The Delta Township Fire Department has issued a burning ban for all of Delta Township in Eaton County and Eagle and Watertown Townships in Clinton County. Open burning also is banned in the townships of Eaton Rapids, Bath and DeWitt and all areas covered by the St. Johns Fire Department. DeWitt Township fire officials also have banned fireworks use, according to the township's Facebook page.

Burning bans also are in place in the Grand Ledge and Portland areas.

Rainfall totals in south-central lower Michigan are running well below normal for June, the weather service said.

So far this month, less than six-tenths of an inch of rain has fallen in Lansing, said Jared Maples, a meteorologist for the weather service in Grand Rapids. Lansing typically gets more than three inches of rain in June, he said.

"We were slightly below normal in a lot of places in May," he said. "The dry pattern kind of settled in toward the end of the month and continued into June."

The state Department of Natural Resources said there's a high danger of fire in mid-Michigan because of the dry conditions.

The local bans apply to recreational fires and brush burning but not to cooking in typical consumer grills. No new burn permits will be issued until the ban is lifted, and permits already issued are rescinded until further notice.

Fire officials in Lansing and Meridian Township warned that their bans could be extended to include fireworks. Meridian officials said the fireworks celebration set to begin at 10 p.m. July 4 might need to be postponed.

Minshall said he's taking "a wait-and-see approach right now on fireworks."

Contact Ken Palmer at (517) 377-1032 or kpalmer@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @KBPalm_lsj.