The Kidder County Commission unanimously approved lifting its burn ban Thursday.

Kidder County Emergency Manager Carla Houghton believes most people obeyed the ban that had been in place since June, though she said it was hard for law enforcement to enforce.

"Some people just went ahead and burned their garbage anyway," she said.

Houghton said she has been flooded with calls about whether the ban is still in effect.

"I'm getting hassled," she told commissioners. "A lot of people would like to see it lifted."

The neighboring counties of Burleigh and Stutsman lifted their burn bans earlier in the week, Houghton said.

She said the south part of Kidder County has received quite a bit of rain recently, though it's still dry to the north. She said the damp mornings should help quell the risks of fire in even the driest parts of the county.

People can now burn "with caution," Houghton said.

She said people planning to burn should let their fire departments know in case fires get out of hand.

Kidder County Sheriff Doug Howard has not written any citations for violations of the burn ban, but he has warned people to stop burning, Houghton said.

She said it has been an active summer for firefighters, with many fires starting from farm equipment and lightning.

"It kept the fire departments hopping," she said.

The burn ban lasted through the Steele 125th anniversary celebration and the Fourth of July, Houghton said. She said professional fireworks displays were allowed at events during the burn ban.

(Reach reporter Jenny Michael at 250-8225 or jenny.michael@;bismarcktribune.com.)