With fall hinting at a potential for less heat and more rain, Judge Bill Gravell lifted the burn ban for unincorporated areas of Williamson County Oct. 2—two weeks ahead of schedule.

The overview

Though the ban is lifted, Central Texas still remains in D4 drought conditions—meaning the area is extremely sensitive to fire danger, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

The burn ban, signed into effect July 18, sought to decrease the occurrence of accidental fires resulting from activities like pile burning and debris burning.

Though Gravell’s order stated current circumstances for the area no longer presented a public safety hazard for outdoor burning, the county still urges residents to be cautious with any outdoor burning activity.

• Contact the local fire department. Some fire departments may require a burn permit.
• Call to report the control burn to Williamson County Communications at (512) 864-8282. WilCo Communications can provide information of any burning restrictions that they have been made aware of.

For more information on the "Do’s and Don’ts" of burning at a residence, visit www.wilcotx.gov.