By Scott Harvey
Hunt County – Hunt County Commissioners will consider lifting the countywide burn ban Monday, which has been in effect since Dec. 8.
During its last meeting on March 6, Commissioners approved a 30-day extension to the ban.
Hunt County Fire Marshal Richard Hill plans to recommend the county lifts the ban, citing that the recent wet weather, soil saturation and fuel conditions on the ground.
As of Friday, 174 counties had burn bans in place, and the number has been decreasing for the past couple of weeks. Just last month, more than 210 Texas Counties were under such bans. Commissioner's Courts in several areas throughout Northeast Texas have been lifting burn bans due to recent rainfall. The only area counties that remain under a ban as of Friday include Hunt, Delta, Rockwall, Grayson, Kaufman and Dallas Counties.
If commissioners vote to lift the ban, it will become effective immediately.
The burn ban does not include outdoor cooking or outdoor welding. Violation of the burn ban is a Class C misdemeanor.
The Commissioners Court is scheduled to meet on March 23 at 10 a.m. in the Auxiliary Courtroom, located at 2700 Johnson.