Kendall County extends burn ban, keeps disaster declaration in place until next court

County officials extended a countywide burn ban and the accompanying local disaster declaration on March 25, keeping restrictions in place while dry conditions persist.

County Judge Shane Stolarzak moved to extend the declaration and burn ban until the next commissioners court meeting so officials could reassess conditions; Commissioner Wiesgen seconded the motion and it passed unanimously, 5-0.

The extension follows written recommendations from Fire Marshal Brady (filed with the court) and an in-person summary from Juan, deputy fire marshal, who told commissioners the county remains in “exceptional, extreme drought conditions” and that the Keetch‑Byram fire index had risen into the 500s (the office reported about 515 at the time of the meeting).

Juan described the permitting process the fire marshal’s office will continue to use for limited “hot‑work” operations. “Hot‑work permits will be issued Monday through Friday during business hours and under certain weather conditions such as wind speeds below 23 miles per hour and humidity above 25%,” he said. He added that permitted operations must provide a designated spotter and a nearby water source (buckets, hose or fire extinguisher) and that county staff will conduct spot checks and may revoke permits if conditions change.

The court’s action keeps in force a prohibition on outdoor open‑flame burning, fireworks, welding, grinding and torch use except with an approved permit. Judge Stolarzak said the declaration will remain until precipitation and weather conditions allow it to be lifted and that the court will revisit the declaration at its next meeting.

Why this matters: The court’s extension preserves county authority to restrict activities that can ignite wildfires while still allowing narrowly defined, supervised work that requires heat or flame. The burn‑ban parameters and the availability of limited permits aim to balance public‑safety risks against the need for essential farm, ranch and infrastructure work.

How to apply: The deputy fire marshal said hot‑work permit information and the application are available on the county website; he said the permit materials are also posted under the fire marshal’s “fire code” section. The fire marshal’s office will review applications and may revoke permits when wind, humidity or other conditions exceed the stated thresholds.

The declaration was issued under the county’s emergency authority and was renewed by the court for a short interval to permit ongoing monitoring. The court directed staff to bring the item back for review at the next scheduled commissioners court meeting.