A new burn ban is in place for unincorporated areas of Travis County following a Travis County Commissioners Court vote Feb. 9.

The ban is slated to end March 9 unless the court, county judge or fire marshal takes other action. Travis County Fire Marshal Hershel Lee had lifted the previous burn ban Oct. 26.

“Yesterday, Travis County was under a National Weather Service Fire Weather Watch due to high winds and low humidity. When that type of weather is combined with dry, small fuels such as grass, the chances of fire growing and getting out of control increase,” Lee said.

Barbecuing in Travis County parks is still allowed as long as the fire is within a closeable container or a container with a lid, and the ban does not affect prescribed burns under the supervision of a prescription burn manager, according to the county.