Burn Ban In Place as Temps Reach 100

Fayette County Commissioners voted to ban outdoor burning for 90 days at a meeting held on Thursday, July 9.

Fields across the County that were green a month ago turned brown over the last couple of weeks as temperatures exceeded 100 degrees. The area saw a little bit of rain two weeks ago in late June, but before that, the last significant rainfall came in May.

Some surrounding counties were lucky to catch a few evening thunderstorms over the last month. For the most part, however, those showers went around Fayette County. The Keetch-Byram Drought Index map produced by Texas A&M University shows a pocket of drought conditions centered over Fayette County.

The burn ban applies to outdoor burning in the unincorporated areas of Fayette County. The last time the county was under a burn ban was October last year. County Judge Joe Weber and the three commissioners in attendance said they spoke with area fire chiefs, who were all in favor of the ban.

The order that Commissioners approved Thursday includes several exceptions, including activities related to

(1) firefighter training;

(2) public utility, natural gas pipeline or mining operations;

(3) planting or harvesting of agricultural crops; (4) fires conducted by a

(4) fires conducted by a prescribed burn manager certified under Section 153.048, Natural Resources Code, and that meet the standards of Section 153.047, Natural Resources Code; or

(5) fires that are prescribed burns conducted by trained persons in compliance with guidelines set forth by federal or state natural resource agencies and that are conducted in accordance with a burn plan approved by such agencies.

The vote was 4-0; Pct. 1 Commissioner Jason McBroom was absent from the meeting. The burn ban will expire in 90 days unless Commissioners decide to terminate it sooner.