The Barry County Commission has enacted a countywide burn ban, citing severe drought conditions and state statute authorizing the action.

In an order approved Thursday, the commission determined a burn ban is appropriate under section 49.266.3, RSMo., following a determination by the State Fire Marshal and designation by the U.S. Drought Monitor that Barry County is an area of severe drought.

The order states Barry County, a county of the third classification, may adopt a burn ban when an actual or impending natural disaster of major proportions jeopardizes the safety of the county or when an area of severe, extreme or exceptional drought exists. Violations of a burn ban order may carry a penalty of up to a Class A misdemeanor.

Under the order, burning is prohibited on a countywide basis until further notice and until the conditions outlined in section 49.266.3, RSMo., no longer exist.

The ban does not apply to state agencies responsible for fire management or suppression activities. Persons conducting agricultural burning using best management practices are also exempt from the provisions of section 49.266.3, RSMo.

The order specifies that the ability of an individual, organization or corporation to sell fireworks is not affected by the issuance of the burn ban. However, the order prohibits the explosion or ignition of any missile or skyrocket as defined by the 2012 edition of the American Fireworks Standards Laboratory. The order does not ban the explosion or ignition of other consumer fireworks as defined under section 320.106, RSMo.

The burn ban took effect upon its passage and approval by the County Commission on Thursday.