Burleigh County officially adopted a modified burn ban on Monday as temperatures were in the 70s and the winds were nearly as strong with gusts in the 50s.

The county took action to declare a fire emergency and establish a modified burn ban a week ago under the authorization of Chairman Jerry Woodcox as recommended by emergency manager Mary Senger. On Tuesday, commissioners extended the fire emergency and modified burn ban until further notice.

The modified ban is in place when a Red Flag Warning is issued or when the North Dakota Rangeland Fire Danger Index is in the very high or extreme index for Burleigh County. This includes open burning, such as campfires, brush, field, ditch, haystack, fireworks and garbage burning.

Senger provided the commissioners with the option of instituting the modified ban or a full burn ban.

"I know you get calls from both sides," Senger said. "I talked to all four fire chiefs in Burleigh, and they are all right with the modified burn ban."

Charcoal and gas grills can be used if used correctly and on a flat surface.

The other types of burning can take place if the index falls into the lower categories, such as midrange and low. The index is updated each morning. Anyone planning to burn should call the Burleigh County sheriff's office at 222-6651, first.

Burleigh residents have been good about calling and there have been few problems, officials said.

"The modified burn ban allows residents the flexibility to do what burning they must when conditions warrant," Senger said.

"Other counties are instituting a full ban and residents are becoming confused about what they can do."

The city of Bismarck is exempt from the burn ban since it has permanent burn restrictions in place through adopting a fire code.

Anyone who violates the burn ban is guilty of an infraction for the first offense.

(Reach reporter Gordon Weixel at 250-8255 or gordon.weixel@bismarcktribune.com.)