For the first time in almost two years, Hunt County is under a ban on outdoor burning.
Increasingly dry conditions, combined scorching heat and gusting winds, have raised the threat of grass and brush fires the county, prompting Director of the Hunt County Office of Homeland Security Richard Hill to ask County Judge John Horn for the seven-day ban, which was issued Tuesday morning.
At least some relief may arrive as early as this afternoon, with the arrival of a cold front which is also promising to bring rain to the region.
Hill said the Keetch-Byram Drought Index — a measure of soil moisture — indicated the county was in the 600-700 classification, a gauge of severe drought.
Hill explained more and larger wildfires had been reported in the past month.
“It appears this is the prudent decision for the safety of Hunt County,” Hill said.
Hill said he has placed the burn ban an as an agenda item for the Aug. 25 meeting of the Commissioners’ Court, which will then decide on whether to implement a 90-day ban on outdoor burning.
Under the ban, all outdoor burning is prohibited with a very few exceptions, such as fire training, burning conducted by a prescribed licensed burn manager, outdoor cooking in an enclosed apparatus designed for cooking purposes. Also including welding, cutting torches and similar tools and machinery as long as while such tools are being used a separate individual be present to observe for fires and sparks and some type of fire extinguisher be present.
A violation of the Burn Ban Ordinance is a class C misdemeanor with a fine up to $500.
Hunt County has not been under a burn ban since Oct. 8, 2013.
Hill said his office will be adding extra patrols to detect and prevent outdoor burning. Anyone with questions can call Hill’s office at 903-408-4282.
As of Tuesday evening 131 Texas counties, including Collin, Delta, Fannin, Kaufman and Van Zandt counties were under bans on outdoor burning.
The National Weather Service forecast was calling for a cold front to cross the region today, bringing a good chance of showers and/or thunderstorms, and dropping the overnight low to around 66 degrees, with a high Thursday in the low 80s.