CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA) — Dry conditions across Central Illinois have prompted multiple fire departments and protection districts to issue burn bans in their jurisdictions.

The Witt Volunteer Fire Department was the first to announce a burn ban, posting on Facebook Sunday night that a ban would begin at 10 a.m. on Monday. The ban includes all outdoor burning, including but not limited to brush piles, leaves, fields and recreational fires such as small fire pits.

“Weather forecasts show no relief in sight, with high temperatures and daytime humidity levels consistently dropping into the low 30% range. For reference, county-wide fires in recent years occurred when humidity was around 21%,” Chief Don Keiser wrote in the department’s Facebook post. “While high winds are not currently forecast, any change could greatly increase fire danger. We ask all residents to respect this ban and avoid outdoor burning until conditions improve. The risk to property, farmland, and lives is too great under the current circumstances.”

The Nokomis Area Fire Protection District announced a ban Monday morning, listing the same reasons as Witt for the ban — extreme dry conditions and little to no significant moisture in the near forecast.

There is to be no burning of any type, Chief Michael Smalley said. He will reassess the situation in a week to determine if the ban needs to be extended.

The Assumption Fire Department and the Taylorville Fire Department also implemented burn bans until further notice.