The DeWitt County Commissioners Court issued a 90-day burn ban for the county’s unincorporated areas Monday, Aug. 25. County Emergency Management Coordinator Billy Jordan Jr. noted that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a proclamation certifying Texas is experiencing increased fire weather conditions statewide on Aug. 12. Abbott issued the notice for 191 counties to mobilize state emergency response resources, citing increased fire risk and wildland fire concerns of the Texas A&M Forest Service.
“With the DeWitt County Burn Ban in effect, we are strongly advising that no burning take place during the next 90 days,” Jordan said.
Jordan also asked county residents to use “extreme caution” in outdoor activities, avoid the use of equipment or actions that could cause sparks and to report all fires immediately by calling 911.
Violations of the burn ban can result in fines of up to $500.
Parts of South Texas and the Lower Gulf Coast that includes De-Witt County has “intermittent dryness with surface fuels that are susceptible to ignition” now, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service. Hot temperatures in August contributed to the drying of vegetation, making the start of fires more likely. The agency says that 90 percent of wildfires in Texas are caused by human activity, including debris burning and equipment use.
Jordan urged anyone considering a controlled burn at any time of the year to call the fire department dispatch before starting and advise officials on what is being burned (ie. brush, pasture or debris), the size of the burn, the location, time of the burn, name and phone number of the responsible person and what resources are available for fire control.
“This information helps dispatchers and first responders stay aware and prevents emergency response,” Jordan said.
To stay informed, sign up for CodeRED Emergency Alerts to receive warnings and community updates.
Register here: DeWitt County CodeRED Registration https://public.coderedweb. com/CNE/en- US/BF93C64092D6...
