The Hays County Commissioners Court reinstated a county-wide burn ban at its meeting Dec. 11 following a recommendation from Hays County Fire Marshal Mark Chambers. The burn ban means residents are barred from doing any outdoor burning, but charcoal and gas grills are exempt.
"If you are grilling outdoors, please use extreme caution," Chambers said in a news release prepared by the county. "Make sure you have a water source nearby to douse escaping sparks, and never leave your grill unattended. Place the grill away from anything else that could catch fire, including your house, and don't dispose of coals until you are certain they are cold."
According to the release, the court also banned the sale and use of fireworks with sticks and fins because of the fire risk they pose. Violators of the bans on fireworks and other burning could face a Class C misdemeanor charge, which carries a fine up to $500.
In order to mitigate the risk of fire, residents should maintain their lawns by keeping them cut short and watered within compliance of water restrictions. The fire marshal's office also recommends parking cars away from grass due to the risk of fire posed by catalytic converters as well as disposing of cigarette butts in proper receptacles.
