PIKEVILLE, Ky. — Pike County Judge-Executive Ray Jones has issued a ban on all outdoor burning, due to extreme dry weather conditions that have sparked forest fires all across Eastern Kentucky.

The burn ban went into effect at noon on Thursday.

It will remain in place until Jones orders otherwise. Even when the burn ban is lifted, it is still fall fire season, meaning that burning between the hours of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. is prohibited until after Dec. 15.