Burn Ban Discussion Gets Hot

Officials Clash Over Decision

Fayette County Commissioners lifted the burn ban with a 4-1 vote on Thursday, April 14.

Pct. 3 Commissioner Harvey Berckenhoff voted against the measure, saying his area of the county remains too dry to safely burn. Furthermore, the news came as a surprise to some area firefighters who said they were not consulted.

La Grange Fire Chief Frank Menefee told the Record after the meeting that he opposed lifting the ban. Menefee said no one from the County government consulted with the Fayette County Firefighters Association, which represents the nine volunteer fire departments in the County.

“We don’t need any emergencies, we don’t need a Bastrop fire here,” Berckenhoff said at Thursday’s meeting.

“The biggest issue has been the wind,” said Pct. 1 Commissioner Jason McBroom. “The wind has been blowing every day.

“The wind projections for the next 10 days are coming down from what it was,” McBroom added.

Pct. 4 Commissioner Drew Brossmann, who also serves as an assistant fire chief in Schulenburg, said conditions in his territory were safe for burning.

“We’ve had some rain and we’ve got green grass,” Brossmann said at the meeting on Thursday. “In our area, it would be OK, as long as people who burn use common sense. I talked to our chief (Jeff Proske), and he’s fine with it as long as people use caution. That’s just my area and that’s all I speak for.”

County Judge Joe Weber made the motion to lift the burn ban.

“I realize that our residents and those who own property here, for the most part, are going to do the right thing and help us all out,” Weber said. “There are a lot of things that need to be burned out there. We have had some rain in enough portions of the County. I only make this motion urging everyone to help us out.”

After the meeting, Menefee told the Record that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration listed Fayette County under increased fire danger through Friday, April 15.

“It’s not raining, and we’ve got a lot of fuel on the ground,” Menefee said. “I’m really put out because they did not check with any of the fire chiefs. It’s a sad day when you don’t check with the people who have boots on the ground.”

Menefee said the burn ban flag at the La Grange Fire Station would continue to fly until he determines it is safe to burn.