Fort Bend County Issues Burn Ban Amid Drought Conditions
Fort Bend County Commissioner’s Court has enacted an outdoor burn ban for unincorporated areas of Fort Bend County, effective immediately as of October 8, 2024. This decision was made during a regularly scheduled session of the court, prompted by ongoing extreme heat and worsening drought conditions that increase the risk of fire hazards.
The Fort Bend County Fire Marshal’s Office has been closely monitoring the Keetch-Bryan Drought Index, which assesses the potential for forest fires based on a balance of precipitation and soil moisture. The index ranges from 0 to 800, with a score of 0 indicating no moisture depletion and a score of 800 representing completely dry conditions. As of today, Fort Bend County's drought index stands at 654, indicating significant dryness.
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Following a presentation on the drought index values and the continued forecast of extreme heat with little to no rain, the Commissioner’s Court reached a consensus that the existing conditions pose a public safety hazard. The Declaration and Order Prohibiting Outdoor Burning specifies that no person may burn or instruct others to burn any material outside of an enclosure designed to contain all flames, sparks, embers, cinders, and ash produced by burning. This order restricts the use of open flames, which includes burning trash, campfires, and any other devices that produce open flames.
County Judge KP George has the authority to rescind this declaration if, in consultation with the County Fire Marshal, it is determined that drought conditions or hazardous circumstances have improved. The burn ban aims to protect residents and their properties from the heightened risk of fire during these critical weather conditions.
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.
