Dry conditions have DCNR working on a month-long burn ban to cover all of Clearfield County.

Meantime, some townships have already banned burning. The rain moving through this afternoon may be some help following days of dry conditions.

Rain showers started around 3 p.m. in DuBois, some short respites from a day of heat.

The water was 15-inches below the spillway at the city reservoir, instead of running across it, water plant director Scott Farrell said.

“Especially in the last week, I’ve noticed that the water levels are definitely lower. You can see more of the banks of the reservoir,” says Darla Brunnquell, who lives near the reservoir.

Areas that are normally underwater are peeking out.

“There’s actually a beach forming, like you could walk on the beach,” says Brunnquell.

On Friday, the city’s Facebook page declared a water conservation warning. Some residents were unaware.

“But I mean, we have been conserving water. We don’t water the grass, we don’t wash the cars here, we go to a car wash if necessary,” says Mary Snyder from DuBois.

“I think it’s wise to unless we get some rain to really conserve but it also pays just to conserve because you save money,” says Joe Delaney from DuBois.

The warning includes not washing cars, driveways, sidewalks, or using hoses and sprinklers to water lawns, and says restaurants shouldn’t serve water unless customers ask.

Car washes and other businesses are OK.

“We do need rain. Everything is very dry. The grass is turning yellow or tan,” says Snyder.

“Due to the recent hot weather and lack of rain, the chance of fire spread is really high right now,” says Chief Nick Selner of Grampian-Penn-Bloom Fire Company.

Selner enacted a burn ban on Monday, stretching into Ferguson Township.

That follows bans in Curwensville/Pike Township and Sandy Township declared on Friday.

Selner says dry weather could hurt firefighting capabilities.

“Our water supply isn’t the greatest to begin with, and with the lack of rain, the rivers and streams are really low, and we depend on them for our water here,” says Selner.

Moshannon State Forest district forester John Hecker says he’s spoken with 10 fire chiefs and will present a 30-day burn ban to the commissioners for approval tomorrow.