Goessel fire chief Matthew Voth advises people to take precautionary measures to avoid accidental fires. A county burn ban is in effect through Monday and may be extended.

“We are in an extremely dry and dangerous situation,” Voth said.

Residents are encouraged to remove or thin all brush, leaves, and tall grasses around houses and outbuildings. All ashes from wood stoves and fireplaces need to be immersed fully in water before disposal. The same goes for cigarettes.

If a fire were to happen, early reporting is critical to help contain it.