The Travis County Commissioners Court meets at 700 Lavaca St. in Central Austin.[/caption]
During its July 28 meeting, the Travis County Commissioners Court unanimously voted to approve banning outdoor burning in unincorporated areas of the county.
The ban is set to expire Aug. 26 unless it is extended.
Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt said the area has seen significant rains and lakes have been somewhat replenished, but some greenery has begun to dry out because of a lack of recent rains.
Travis County Fire Marshal Hershel Lee said he recommended the ban, and the last time the county enacted a burn ban was Sept. 15. The county considers a number of factors before recommending a ban, he said, including measuring moisture using the Keetch-Byram Drought Index, in which zero represents saturation and 800 represents a complete lack of moisture. The area is at an average of 427 on the KBDI with daily increases in dryness, according to the county.
“There are four days of near-100 degree weather forecast [this week] with little to no chance of rain,” he said.
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is slated to do some prescribed burning this week, so Southwest Austin-area residents might see some smoke, he said.
"The threat of wildfire is extremely severe and we take these burn ban requirements seriously ... to protect the majority of the citizens," Precinct 2 Commissioner Brigid Shea said.
Residents can call 512-854-4621 to receive information about the burn ban.
The Travis County Commissioners Court meets at 700 Lavaca St. in Central Austin.[/caption]
During its July 28 meeting, the Travis County Commissioners Court unanimously voted to approve banning outdoor burning in unincorporated areas of the county.
The ban is set to expire Aug. 26 unless it is extended.
Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt said the area has seen significant rains and lakes have been somewhat replenished, but some greenery has begun to dry out because of a lack of recent rains.
Travis County Fire Marshal Hershel Lee said he recommended the ban, and the last time the county enacted a burn ban was Sept. 15. The county considers a number of factors before recommending a ban, he said, including measuring moisture using the Keetch-Byram Drought Index, in which zero represents saturation and 800 represents a complete lack of moisture. The area is at an average of 427 on the KBDI with daily increases in dryness, according to the county.
“There are four days of near-100 degree weather forecast [this week] with little to no chance of rain,” he said.
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is slated to do some prescribed burning this week, so Southwest Austin-area residents might see some smoke, he said.
"The threat of wildfire is extremely severe and we take these burn ban requirements seriously ... to protect the majority of the citizens," Precinct 2 Commissioner Brigid Shea said.
Residents can call 512-854-4621 to receive information about the burn ban.
