KAUFMAN COUNTY, Texas — The Kaufman County Commissioners’ Court ordered a burn ban on Monday morning, August 8, 2016, during a regularly scheduled Commissioners’ Court meeting, after a recommendation by Kaufman County Fire Marshal Randy Richards.
KAUFMAN COUNTY, Texas — The Kaufman County Commissioners’ Court ordered a burn ban on Monday morning, August 8, 2016, during a regularly scheduled Commissioners’ Court meeting, after a recommendation by Kaufman County Fire Marshal Randy Richards.
The burn ban, which includes the burning of trash and burn barrels, will remain in effect for the unincorporated areas of the county for the next 90 days unless extended or rescinded. The 90-day period ends on November 6, 2016.
The Keetch-Byram Drought Index, an index used to determining forest fire potential, for Kaufman County has continued to increase over the past 14 days from an average of 544 to 608 and is forecast to continue to increase over the next two weeks to a daily average KBDI index of 682.
575 is a benchmark number used to consider the enactment of a burn ban, according to Richards.
“It’s hot and dry and getting dryer,” Richards told the court. Richards expects the index to get into the 700 range in the coming weeks.
The order does not prohibit outdoor burring activities related to public health and safety including firefighter training, public utility operation, planting and harvesting of agricultural crops, and burns that are conducted by a certified and insured prescribed burn manager.
Prescribed burns should be reported prior to commencing to Kaufman County dispatch at (469) 376-4598 and the Kaufman County Fire Marshal’s Office at (469) 376-4111.
A violation of the burn ban is a class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $500.
