Ellis County joined a number of area counties Monday, issuing a county-wide burn ban.

The Ellis County Commission voted, at Monday night’s meeting to approve a resolution issuing a temporary ban on all outdoor burning throughout the county.

Commission Chair Marcy McClelland brought the issue before the commission and said because of the dry conditions and current drought conditions the ban is needed.

City of Hays Fire Fighter Lt. Darin Myers was announced as the new Rural Fire Director at Monday night’s meeting and said he believes the commission made the right decision.

“What this year is looking like, for the amount of rainfall and the predicament that we are already in it’s a good thing that we are starting now before we lose any property of anybody gets hurt,” said Myers.

Myers will begin work as the Rural Fire Director later this month.

The ban includes “trash barrels, fire pits, trash pits, ornamental fire chimneys, fields and any other form of open burning.”

Rooks, Russell, Trego and Ness County all issued burn bans on Monday.