Residents in the city of Covington are now prohibited from all outdoor burning, after an announcement by the Covington Fire Department Tuesday.

Covington Fire Chief Stoney Bowles implemented the ban, effective immediately.

“Due to the extreme drought conditions our region is facing, effective immediately and until further notice, the Covington Fire Department has banned all outdoor burning,” Bowles said in a statement. “This includes warming fires at construction sites, recreation fires of any type (burn pits, chimeneas, bon fires, cooking or camp fires, etc.), yard waste fires and fires like these, but not limited to these.

“The only outdoor burning permitted will be from a gas or charcoal grill.”