Fire Marshal Hershel Lee plans to recommend that Travis County leaders ban outdoor burning in unincorporated areas of the county.
The ban would not affect the Fourth of July fireworks sales season if it is adopted by the Travis County Commissioners Court during its June 26 meeting.
The last burn ban was enacted on Jan. 17, according to the fire marshal's office.
The county measures moisture using the Keetch–Byram Drought Index; Zero represents total saturation and 800 represents a complete lack of moisture.
"The drought index is reaching 500, and the small fuels [such as grasses and small branches] are able to ignite easily," Lee said. "I plan to recommend the ban to the court as a precautionary measure rather than wait until there is a catastrophe."
He said local fire chiefs agree with the ban recommendation and are reporting drying conditions around the county.
Lee said people can buy, sell and possess fireworks in unincorporated areas of the county during a burn ban. Fireworks are not allowed in Travis County parks.
The sale and possession of fireworks is illegal within Austin city limits.
This year, county leaders will not be able to ban so-called restricted fireworks, such as skyrockets with sticks and missiles with fins.
Lee said that in order to do that, the drought index would have had to have been 575 prior to June 15, which it was not.
In a statement released June 12, the fire marshal's office offered the following safety recommendations:
- Only buy fireworks from reliable vendors
- Never try to make your own fireworks
- Have water handy in case of a fire
- Read and follow all directions on the packages of fireworks
- Light one firework at a time
- Never give fireworks to small children
For a full list of recommendations and regulations, visit: www.co.travis.tx.us/fire_marshal/
