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Liberty County enacts two-week countywide burn ban citing wind-driven wildfire risk
Summary
The Liberty County Commissioners Court on March 25, 2025 approved a countywide burn ban for two weeks after the county fire marshal warned that dead surface vegetation and recent windy conditions could cause wildfires to spread rapidly.
Liberty County Commissioners Court voted on March 25, 2025 to enact a countywide burn ban for two weeks after the county fire marshal reported that surface vegetation killed by freezes remains dry and that forecast winds increase the risk that any fire could spread rapidly.
The burn ban passed after a motion by Commissioner Greg and a second by Commissioner Bruce and carried on a voice vote. The court recorded a finding on the record that circumstances present a public-safety hazard in unincorporated areas of the county, a step cited as necessary under Local Government Code chapter 352.
Fire Marshal Nathan told the court that "the KBDI reading for Liberty County is at or below 200 because of the rain that we've had," but emphasized that "it's not the ground that burns, it's the dead foliage on top of the ground that is the problem" following recent freezes. He recommended a ban “for no more than 30 days” to let the season settle; the court set the initial length at two weeks and said it can terminate the ban earlier if conditions improve.
The court record shows the ban is intended as a temporary, precautionary measure for unincorporated areas and will be revisited at the next commissioners court meeting. The fire marshal said the ban can be lifted at any point that danger is determined to be nonexistent. He also warned residents about legal and financial consequences: a reckless burn that gets out of control can carry fines the transcript states “up to $250,000” for an individual and “up to $500,000” for a business.
The discussion distinguished surface fuels from soil moisture: county staff and the fire marshal explained that recent rains have moistened the ground but not the dead vegetation on top, which remains a source of spread when driven by wind. The court asked staff to prepare public-education materials explaining when residents may legally burn, what responsibilities apply, and where to find online KBDI and other fire-condition resources.
The county judge and commissioners said the ban was meant to be protective and temporary. The court recorded that the burn ban is effective immediately for two weeks and will be reevaluated at the following meeting or sooner if weather conditions change.
