Burn Ban Enacted

Fayette County Commissioners Court voted unanimously to implement a burn ban at their meeting last Thursday, Sept. 11.

The Keetch Byram Drought Index, a measure of soil moisture published by Texas A&M Forest Service, was at an average of 587 across Fayette County last Thursday when Commissioners voted on the burn ban. By Sunday, the index had surpassed 600. That level is considered “severe drought with increased wildfire occurrence,” according to the Forest Service.

Some rain fell on the southern part of Fayette County the weekend before, but the northern part of Fayette County received little if any rainfall.

“We haven’t had (a burn ban) in a long time,” said Pct. 4 Commissioner Drew Brossmann, who also serves as an assistant chief for the Schulenburg Volunteer Fire Department. “So I think people have had plenty of time to burn and catch up on anything they needed to catch up on. We hate putting it in, but it is getting pretty dry.”

Fayette County Emergency Management Coordinator Angela Hahn said she recently attended a meeting of the Capitol Area Council of Governments where some regional fire officials spoke.

‘“They said Fayette County is on their watch list right now because it’s so dry,” Hahn said.

“What concerns me is, there is a ton of fuel out there,” said Pct. 1 Commissioner Jason McBroom, referring to tall grass and thick brush in the rural areas. “This is where I go back to the wildlife exemption people. It is scary what’s in the pastures right now.”

McBroom’s comment was not the first time a Commissioner raised concerns about the effects of the wildlife “exemption” for property taxes. Landowners can obtain a wildlife valuation for their property, which reduces property taxes in a similar manner to an agricultural valuation. When land is managed for wildlife, grass often grows tall, leading to more of a fire danger during dry times. Agricultural land, on the other hand, is often grazed by livestock or harvested for crops.

County Judge Dan Mueller issued a press release last Thursday urging citizens to exercise extreme caution in these dry conditions.