At their weekly meeting May 23, Hays County Commissioners decided not to reinstate the county's burn ban yet.

County Judge Dr. Bert Cobb said that while outdoor burning of brush and debris is still legal, residents who need to do so should plan to burn soon and should be careful when doing so.

"With highs in the 90s and fewer chances of rain as we approach summer, we expect we'll have to reinstate the burn ban soon," Cobb said in a statement. "If you have burning that you need to do, do it soon and be extremely careful. If you are burning a large amount of brush, advise your local fire department—not the [Hays County] Sheriff's Office—as a precaution. As a courtesy, tell your neighbors."

Fire Marshal Mark Chambers said that in addition to the drought index, fire safety officials look at wind conditions and the number of responses to out-of-control burns to determine when a ban should be in place.

The index officials use is the Keetch-Byram Drought Index, with information from weather stations across the state.

The drought index for Hays County is currently in the low 100s, which is considered low, Chambers said. As dry conditions continue, that index can rise rapidly to what officials consider the danger zone of 500. The index tops out at 800.

Chambers said county fire officials look daily at whether a burn ban should be in place, and Cobb has the authority to reinstate the ban on their advice.

Chambers said that when a burn ban is in effect, it usually exempts charcoal and gas grills in approved, lidded containers, but burning in "burn barrels"—even ones with screens on the top—is not allowed.

As of May 23, there are 86 counties in Texas with burn bans in place, mostly in the western half of the state. In 2011, Hays County remained under a burn ban for 316 days.

Information about outdoor burning, the drought index and fire safety is available on the county's website, www.co.hays.tx.us.