Liberty County commissioners approve burn ban as KBDI readings show severe drought

The Liberty County Commissioners Court on Oct. 17 approved a countywide burn ban after Fire Marshal Nathan Green reported that the county's Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) readings remain at levels classified as severe drought.

Green told the court the KBDI scale tops out at 800 and that Liberty County's low reading the previous day was 616, the highest local reading was 746, and the countywide average was 699. "We're in severe drought per KBDI," Green said.

Commissioners noted a prior, short declaration had expired earlier in the day. After brief discussion, the court approved the burn ban by a unanimous 3-0 vote. Commissioner Gerald moved to approve and Commissioner Greg seconded.

Green said recent light sprinkles were insufficient to change drought conditions and that the county would need multiple days of significant rain to reduce the KBDI readings substantially. He did not specify operational details or the exact prohibitions included in the burn ban during the meeting.

Officials did not provide an ordinance number, a written order, or a date for when the ban would end. The transcript records the court's approval of the burn ban and a brief discussion of current drought metrics.