KAUFMAN COUNTY, Texas — The Kaufman County Commissioners’ Court ordered a burn ban on Monday morning, August 10, 2015, 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 10, 2015, during a regularly scheduled Commissioners’ Court meeting, after a recommendation by Kaufman County Fire Marshal Randy Richards.
The burn ban will remain in effect for the unincorporated areas of the county for the next 90 days unless it is terminated early.
The Keetch-Byram Drought Index, an index used to determining forest fire potential, for Kaufman County has continued to increase over the past 10 days from an average of 541 to 638 and is forecast to continue to increase over the next two weeks to a daily average KBDI index of 716.
“As you can see, we are getting into a severe drought range between 700 and 800,” Richards told the commissioners’ court.
575 is a benchmark number used to consider the enactment of a burn ban, according to Richards.
Over the past ten days, throughout the county, fire departments have responded to between 25 and 30 grass fire calls. The causes of the fires range from flat tires and dragging chains along the roadways, unattended outdoor cooking, and burning trash and brush piles.
Richards says the fires have been more significant and have more intense fire behaviors, such as jumping roads, over the past two to three days.
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, according to the order.
Prescribed burns should be reported prior to commencing to Kaufman County dispatch at (972) 932-9799 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.
