The Arkansas City Fire/EMS Department is reminding residents that a burn ban imposed by the State of Kansas will be in effect for Cowley County during April. The ban includes all open burning of brush piles, crop residue, construction debris, and yard waste. Burning that will continue to be allowed during April includes agricultural burning related to the management of prairie or grasslands (range or pasture management) and burning activities in the conservation reserve program. The April burn ban does not restrict the use of cooking fires and backyard burn pits. Open burning restrictions for certain counties during April is a regulation supporting the State of Kansas Flint Hills Smoke Management Plan, which was formally adopted by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment on December 29, 2010. Open burns can resume after May 1, 2024.