The Guadalupe County Commissioner's Court approved the ordinance during the Oct. 1 meeting. The ordinance will be effective through Dec. 31, or when the order is rescinded.
Patrick Pinder, Guadalupe County emergency management coordinator and fire marshal, said current conditions are too dangerous to allow burning.
What you need to know
For residents, household trash and domestic waste can be burned in an above-ground enclosure if the operations are in compliance with the following requirements:
- The enclosure must have a metal mesh screen on top that prevents any sparks or embers from exiting the enclosure.
- An individual age 18 or older must be present during all phases of the burning.
- Before beginning any burning, the person performing the burn must notify the Guadalupe County fire marshal or Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office dispatch.
- A water source for extinguishing the fire must be within 10 feet of the location of the enclosure being burned in.
- Surfaces around the enclosure area must be wet down.
- No burning is allowed on days designated as red-flag warning days by the National Weather Service.
A permit is not required for residents burning household trash in an enclosed burn barrel with a cover.
The full burn ban ordinance can be viewed here.
What else?
Pinder told the Commissioners Court that the Keetch-Byram Drought Index in Guadalupe County was at 637.
According to the index, ratings ranging from 600-800 are often associated with more severe drought with increased wildfire occurrence. The rating system ranges from 0-800.
“Looking at some of the counties around us, Bexar is at 587, Caldwell is at 641, Comal is at 647, Hays is at 619, Gonzales is 626, and Wilson is 613. Out of those counties, four of them are in a burn ban,” Pinder said.
