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As the county judge lifts the ban, Burnet County residents are taking the opportunity to burn brush such as this burn pile in Timber Ridge. File photo
Burnet County and Llano County both are now allowing residents to conduct out - door burns, as rainfall amounts and moisture levels in recent weeks have reduced the fire danger.
As of Aug. 31 Burnet County officials lifted their burn ban. Burn ban status may be confirmed at any time by calling the Burnet County Sheriff's Office at 512-756-8080, the Burnet County Courthouse at 512-756-5420, Burnet Coun - ty County Development Services at 512-756-5437 or the county Web site at burnet -
countytexas.org. Burnet County outdoor burning guide lines are as follows: Notify the Burnet County Sheriff be -
Burning fore starting any outdoor burns at 512-756-8080.
• Burning shall not be conducted after dark. Burning shall commence no earlier than an hour after sunrise and be completed on the same day no later than one hour before sunset.
• Make sure that a responsible person stays with the burn at all times while the burn is active.
• Have some means to control the burn (water, shovel, equipment). Means of control should be directly related to the size of the burn being conducted.
• Clear at least a six foot distance around the bum area by mowing or grading. Burning shall not be commenced if surface wind speed is predicted to be greater than twenty- three (23) MPH during the burn period.
• Burn brush, trimmings, untreated wood or paper products only. The fire should not produce black Electrical insulation, treated lumber, plastics, non-wood construction/ demolition materials, heavy oils, asphalt materials, potentially explosive materials, chemical wastes, and items containing natural or synthetic rubber (i.e. tires) must not be burned.
• Burning must be conducted downwind of or at least 300 feet from any structure containing sensitive receptors located on adjacent properties unless prior written approval is obtained from the adjacent occupant.
The authority to conduct outdoor burning under this guideline does not exempt or excuse any person responsible from the consequences, damages or injuries resulting from the burning and does not exempt or excuse anyone from complying with all other applicable laws or ordinances, regulations and orders or governmental entities having jurisdiction, even though the burning is otherwise conducted in compliance with these guidelines.
Law enforcement officers may issue warnings and citations for outdoor burning violations. No burning shall be conducted on Red Flag Warning days.
Llano County
Llano County officials are warning that just because that county is no longer under a burn ban, residents shouldn’t abandon caution in burning.
Llano County Judge Ron Cunningham lifted the ban Tuesday, Aug. 23, after several days of rain county-wide. “We’re still under drought conditions, however,” Gilbert Bennett, county Emergency Management Coordinator, said. “It’s important to remember that no areas are really waterlogged.” As recently as Wednesday, some areas of Llano County reached 720 on the 800-point Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI), widely used to estimate wildfire vulnerability. The county average was 584 on Wednesday. Bennett also reminded residents that if they begin controlled burns, they should call the Llano County Sheriff’s Office to let them know a burn will happen. “That way, if someone reports seeing smoke, dispatchers will know it’s a controlled burn. It keeps from sending volunteer firefighters out on what’s really an unnecessary call.” The non-emergency phone number for the Llano County Sheriff’s Office is 325-247-5767. Firefighters have worked harder than usual this summer to control wildfires, not only in Central Texas but statewide.
Staff Writers Phil Reynolds and Raymond V. Whelan contributed to this report.