Montgomery County commissioners impose three-day burn ban amid red-flag warnings
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Summary
The Montgomery County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously March 17 to impose a temporary three-day outdoor burn ban effective immediately and authorized a process for the chairman to extend or lift the ban between meetings.
Montgomery County commissioners voted unanimously March 17 to impose a three-day countywide ban on outdoor burning after the National Weather Service issued red-flag warnings and officials reported high winds and low humidity.
The action, approved by Commissioners Beaver, Cordray and Clubein, gives the board chairman authority to extend or lift the ban between regular meetings; the resolution will be reviewed at the commission’s next meeting on March 24. Commissioner Cordray made the motion, and it passed with all three commissioners voting yes.
County Emergency Management and fire chiefs told commissioners the National Weather Service had forecasted 50–65 mph gusts and critical fire conditions for the coming days. Commissioner Cordray said the measure is intended to give emergency responders a tool to deter unsafe burning and to support prosecution if people start fires that spread. The board clarified the ban covers “all outdoor burning,” and staff said the sheriff’s office can enforce violations as a class B misdemeanor under existing state law.
The commissioners discussed duration. Several members and local fire chiefs favored a shorter, more flexible window than the seven-day ban used previously. Commissioners settled on three days with explicit language allowing the chairman, on recommendation from emergency management and fire chiefs, to issue or extend the ban and to lift it early if weather conditions change (for example, if rain arrives).
Commissioners and staff said they will circulate notices through county channels: county Facebook posts, the sheriff’s office and local radio, and an email/alert list that includes fire chiefs and city managers. Commissioners also asked county staff and fire chiefs to discuss a standardized burn-plan notification process so controlled agricultural burns are coordinated with local departments.
The motion as read back to the board stated: “A motion was made by Commissioner Cordray to approve a burn ban for 3 days effective immediately on 03/17/2025, where the board’s chairman has the authority. This resolution will be reviewed at the next commission meeting, 03/24/2025.” The vote was recorded as Commissioner Beaver: yes; Commissioner Cordray: yes; Commissioner Clubein: yes.
County officials said the ban takes effect immediately upon adoption and will be publicly posted; they urged residents to avoid outdoor burning while the ban is in place.
