A burn ban will remain in effect for Bastrop County through Nov. 24.

The details

James Altgelt, the Bastrop County emergency management coordinator, told Bastrop County Commissioners Court during a Nov. 10 meeting that the Keetch-Byram Drought Index—a tool used in determining forest fire potential—had a 14-day average of 641.14 from Oct. 20 to Nov. 2.

An index of 800 represents “absolutely dry” conditions, while an index of zero represents no moisture depletion, according to the Bastrop County Office of Emergency Management.

Zooming in


The emergency order prohibiting outdoor burning has been in effect since Sept. 22.

“The purpose of this order is the mitigation of the public safety hazard posed by wildfires during the current dry weather conditions by curtailing the practice of outdoor burning,” the emergency order, signed by Bastrop County Judge Gregory Klaus, states.

Bastrop County outlined the following enforcement measures if there is an outdoor fire:
  • Fire departments will be sent to the scene to contain and extinguish the fire.
  • A peace officer will be sent to the scene to investigate the nature of the fire.
  • A fine of up to $500 is punishable if an individual knowingly violates the emergency order.
A full list of activities allowed and prohibited during a burn ban can be accessed on the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality website.

Some background


Bastrop County also issued a disaster declaration Sept. 18, citing several factors, including:
  • A lack of rainfall for an extended period of time
  • The dry conditions posing a risk of large, dangerous and fast-moving wildfires
  • Meteorologists not forecasting a change in the dry conditions in the near future
All of Bastrop County was experiencing severe drought conditions as of Nov. 4, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

“The latest drought map for conditions as of Nov. 4 shows an increase in drought area from the previous week—the seventh weekly increase in the past eight weeks,” Mark Wentzel, a hydrologist with the Office of Water Science and Conservation, said in his latest Water Weekly report Nov. 10. “The area of the state impacted by drought has reached a six-month high. Expect more drought on next week’s map.”

He added that precipitation for most of the state was well below normal from August to October.

“Large areas of the state have received less than half their normal rainfall,” Wentzel said. “Only a few scattered areas have received normal or better rainfall.”


What else?

Residents can contact Altgelt with questions at 512-581-4022.