Drought issues are becoming a concern across the area, and that’s not just an issue for farmers. It could also lead to headaches for area fire departments dealing with dry vegetation fires.

Taylorville Fire Chief Mike Crews says discarded cigarettes have led to brush fires in the past.

Crews says along with disposing of cigarettes properly, there are some controlled burn tips that could prevent a planned fire from going out of control.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s drought monitor, most of the area is seeing abnormally dry conditions and portions of Sangamon, Christian, Montgomery, and Fayette counties are in a moderate drought.