Hays County Commissioners placed unincorporated areas of Hays County, including extraterritorial jurisdictions, under a burn ban during its June 5 meeting. As a part of the ban, burning in “burn barrels” or fire pits is not allowed, and grilling at any of the Hays County Parks is prohibited. Charcoal, wood and gas grills with lids are exempt from the ban on personal property. According to a report from Fire Marshal Clint Browning, the drought index had reached 439, an almost 100-point climb from the same time last week.