The burn ban will be in effect until Sept. 3 unless further action is taken by the County Fire Marshal or judge before then, according to a release.
Quote of note
“This week, we’re experiencing dangerous levels of heat and decreasing humidity, which is a troubling combination for wildfire risk,” said Gary Howell, Travis County chief fire marshal, in a statement. “I urge everyone in Travis County to abide by the burn ban so we can all work together to minimize the risk of fires and ensure our public’s safety.”
Who is affected?
Unincorporated areas within Travis County include any region that falls outside a municipality's jurisdiction.
The county recommends residents who live within city limits contact their local fire departments for questions about outdoor burning.
What residents should know
The Travis County Fire Marshal urges residents to use caution when conducting outdoor grilling or barbecuing and recommends they keep water nearby in case of a fire.
Additionally, Lake Travis Fire Rescue recommended drivers avoid parking or idling over dry grass and ensure tow chains aren’t dragging along the roads.
The ban on outdoor burning does not affect outdoor welding, cutting, grinding or other hot work operations that follow county guidelines, according to the release.
It also does not apply to prescribed burns conducted under the supervision of a prescription burn manager.
What else?
Intentional violations of the burn ban are punishable by up to a $500 fine.
Residents with questions about the burn ban can contact the Travis County Fire Marshal’s office.
Some context
Travis County last issued a burn ban in October.
