With Rain Coming, Commissioners Pass on Burn Ban

Fayette County Commissioners considered implementing a burn ban at their meeting last Thursday, Jan. 27. They took no action, however, in anticipation of rain this week.

“This was on (the agenda) because we were talking about it, but conditions have changed,” said Pct. 1 Commissioner Jason McBroom.

“Can we ban prescribed burns?” joked Pct. 3 Commissioner Harvey Berckenhoff, referencing the Rolling Pines Fire in Bastrop County, which started from a prescribed burn that got out of control. The Rolling Pines started on Jan. 18 when a prescribed burn in the Lost Pines Forest got out of control. It burned 812 acres before firefighters finally brought it under control with the help of some rain on Jan. 24. The weather forecast for this week included a 100 percent chance of rain on Monday. – Andy Behlen