Fort Bend County Burn Ban Takes Effect: What Lakemont Residents Need to Know
Fort Bend County’s outdoor burn ban took effect at 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, following worsening drought conditions, continued extreme heat and little rainfall in the forecast.
The order applies to all unincorporated areas of Fort Bend County, including affected residents in Lakemont.
The Fort Bend County Fire Marshal’s Office has been closely monitoring local wildfire conditions, including the Keetch-Byram Drought Index, or KBDI. As of Aug. 27, Fort Bend County’s KBDI reading stood at 634 on a scale of zero to 800, indicating significantly dry conditions.
County officials determined that the combination of drought, heat and limited rainfall created a potential public safety hazard.
What the Fort Bend County burn ban prohibits
Under the county’s signed Order Prohibiting Outdoor Burning in Fort Bend County, Texas, a person may not burn or direct another person to burn material outdoors unless the fire is inside an enclosure designed and capable of containing all flames, sparks, embers, cinders and ash.
The county’s press release specifically identifies trash burning, campfires, burn barrels and other open-flame devices among the activities restricted under the order.
For residents in Lakemont, the key distinction is location: the burn ban applies to properties in unincorporated Fort Bend County. Residents inside an incorporated city should follow the rules established by their municipality.
Violations can result in a fine
Peace officers are authorized to enforce the order.
A violation is a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500, according to the signed Fort Bend County order.
The order includes limited exceptions for certain activities authorized under state law, including qualifying firefighting training, public utility and natural gas pipeline operations, mining activities, agricultural planting or harvesting and certain prescribed burns conducted by certified and insured prescribed burn managers.
Fire Marshal will continue monitoring conditions
The Fort Bend County Fire Marshal’s Office will continue to play a role as drought conditions change.
Under the order, the county judge may rescind the burn ban after consulting with the Fort Bend County Fire Marshal and determining that drought conditions or other hazardous circumstances no longer exist.
The prohibition remains in effect until it is rescinded or until drought conditions are determined to have ended. It cannot remain in place for more than 90 days without further action by Fort Bend County Commissioners Court.
For households in Lakemont, that means outdoor burning restrictions will remain in place until Fort Bend County formally announces a change. Residents should continue monitoring updates from Fort Bend County and the Fort Bend County Fire Marshal’s Office as late-summer drought conditions develop.
Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for updates on the Fort Bend County burn ban and other public safety information affecting Lakemont.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.Do you own a business?
