Due to the extremely dry conditions in the region, the Hutchinson Fire Department is asking residents to avoid using backyard fire pits or outdoor fireplaces.

“If you do burn, please do so with an abundance of caution,” said Hutchinson Fire Marshal Michael Cain. “Don’t conduct any kind of fire within 50 feet of a structure and have a garden hose or water supply capable of extinguishing the fire with you at all times.”

For any fire not in an outdoor fireplace or fire pit a fire department burn permit must be issued before lighting anything.

“We’ve not had too many (fire calls) from those backyard ones yet, but we want to try to get ahead of it before that does happen,” Cain said.

“Those backyard pits can throw off embers too," he said. "And if people’s lawns haven’t been taken of, if they aren't nice and green from an irrigation system, a bone-dry lawn potentially could cause as much trouble as something out in the county.”

Hutchinson is severely lacking in moisture for the month and is far behind for the year.

The city has recorded just 0.02 of an inch so far for September, from that cold Sept. 11 day that sold out sweatshirts at the Fair.

The city’s last rain of at least a half inch was 0.58 of an inch on Aug. 28, and it was virtually the only rain in August. The last time there was close to an inch of rain was June 10, when 0.91 of an inch fell.

For the year, Hutchinson has received just 17.4 inches of precipitation, which is nearly 8 inches or 30% behind average.

“We just want to try to get ahead of it,” Cain said in issuing the warning. “We want to try to get people to think about being safe until we get some kind of moisture.”

While there has been heavy dew in the mornings when the temperatures are low,  humidity levels have been dropping quickly, which leads to higher fire danger, Cain said.

Crews have been running on some fires in the county, at least one- or two a week, Cain said. But most have been relatively small, contained to five acres or less, so they don’t gain much public attention. Winds have also been lower, which helps keep the fires more contained.

“There’s been quite a few,” Cain said. “They just haven’t been talked about much.”