Recent rainfall notwithstanding, the Huntington County Commissioners decided on Friday, July 20, to extend the burn ban in Huntington County.

The ban will be in place indefinitely, County Commissioner and Huntington Fire Marshal Leon Hurlburt said, but the commissioners will continue to review it on a weekly basis.

The ban was initially enacted on June 15. It covers all open burning, including campfires, as well as fireworks.

Hurlburt explained that the rainfall late last week was "extremely spotty," with some areas of Huntington County receiving little new moisture. The rain that did fall wasn't enough to make up for the weeks of dry weather this summer, he added.

"These rain showers that we got helped, but in the long term they're not going to affect this situation we're in," Hurlburt said.

Hurlburt said state experts, speaking at a conference last week, agreed that the drought wasn't going to disappear anytime soon.

"It's going to take a lot of moisture to turn it around," Hurlburt said.