As an extended period of drought persists for several weeks, the shortage of rainfall is beginning to impact the environment and elevate the risk of wildfires.
Certain counties in Southeast Texas are imposing restrictions on burning activities due to the absence of recent precipitation and the lack of any rain predicted in the upcoming forecast.
The presence of dry underbrush and diminished humidity levels heightens the possibility of fires; therefore, it is prohibited to burn waste, plants, and other flammable materials in regions that are subject to burn restrictions.
The Texas A&M Forest Services relies on the Keetch-Byram Drought Index to assess the risk of fires during dry weather conditions.
Even in counties that do not have an official burning prohibition in place, exercise vigilance, as a significant portion of Southeast Texas is experiencing unusually dry circumstances with no imminent rain anticipated.
List of counties in the Houston area implementing or considering burn bans
Presented below is a compilation of counties in the Houston vicinity that are currently under burn bans or are contemplating the introduction of one in the near future.
Harris County
The Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office has advocated for the establishment of a burn ban due to prevailing dry conditions. The Harris County Commissioners Court is set to vote on the potential approval of this ban during their upcoming meeting on Thursday, October 16.
Fort Bend County
The Fort Bend County Commissioners sanctioned a county-wide burn ban during their meeting on October 13. Residents are forbidden from igniting any outdoor fires unless they are entirely contained within a structure specifically designed to restrict flames, sparks, embers, and ash. This directive prohibits the use of open flames, which includes but is not limited to the incineration of refuse, campfires, burn barrels, and other flame-emitting devices.
Montgomery County
Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough has declared a burn ban that is effective as of Tuesday, October 14. «Extended periods of dry weather and critically parched fuels indicate that even minor sparks can rapidly transform into significant wildfires,» Keough stated on Facebook. «The incineration of household waste is illegal throughout the year in Montgomery County, and despite this regulation, we have observed numerous fires in recent days resulting from unlawful burning. »
The directive prohibits all outdoor burning activities that are not authorized by state law and verified by the county fire marshal’s office.
