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.
