Burn Ban Discussed, Kept in Place
Fayette County Commissioners Court extended the ban on outdoor burning for at least another week during a special meeting on Wednesday, April 6. The ban has been in place since Feb. 15.
Commissioners cited the large amount of dry, wintercured vegetation still standing across much of the County and strong winds as the reasons for keeping the ban in place. The County was under a red flag warning when Commissioners made the decision on Wednesday.
“Most of the counties east of us are out of a burn ban, and most of the counties west of us are in a burn ban,” said Fayette County Emergency Management Chief Craig Moreau.
Chief Deputy Randy Noviskie of the Sheriff’s Office, who also serves as the Fayetteville Fire Chief, said his department recently fought a fire that started from some barbecue coals that ignited some brush in extremely strong winds.
“If it would have gotten away from us, it would have been on the news for everyone in the State of Texas,” he said. “Everybody wants to burn. I got piles I need to burn. But Colorado County, who just lifted their burn ban, are talking about it because of the low humidity and the winds we’re going to have today and tomorrow.”
Pct. 4 Commissioner Drew Brossmann said Schulenburg Fire Chief Jeff Proske was not opposed to lifting the ban.
“We’re lucky and had a good rain, so all the green grass finally shot up,” Brossmann said.
Pct. 1 Commissioner Jason McBroom said landowners who live outside the county may not know when a burn ban is in place.
Moreau advocated for a outreach effort to education the public about safe outdoor burning. He proposed a color-coded warning system to inform citizens about the level of fire danger on different days. In addition, he said the County could partner with local fire departments to train landowners about safety precautions when burning. In addition, County Judge Joe Weber asked the Sheriff’s Office to step up enforcement in cases when people violate the burn ban.
“If you start a fire with the wind blowing 25 miles an hour in this County, and the burn ban is in place, then you need to pay a price for that,” Weber said. “We need to hold you accountable for that decision.”
The County’s burn ban states that violations are a class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $500. Noviskie said those cases go to the Justice of the Peace courts. Furthermore, he said a fire that damages a neighbor’s property could lead to a lawsuit for the person who started the fire.