Bee County rescinds burn ban for two weeks to allow brush pile burning; sheriff, fire chiefs to coordinate

Bee County Commissioner’s Court voted Jan. 27 to rescind the county’s current outdoor burn ban and revisit the matter in two weeks to allow residents to burn brush piles under a limited process.

During the agenda item to "approve Bee County burn ban order prohibiting outdoor burning," county staff said fire chiefs had requested a temporary lift of the ban for at least two weeks to permit landowners to burn brush piles. The county’s emergency manager reported that most callers seeking to burn described remote piles in plowed fields or on ranch property and that the burn ban order contains exemptions that can apply when conditions and protocols are followed.

The sheriff recommended that, if the court votes to lift the ban temporarily, residents notify the sheriff’s office in advance of any planned burns and, where appropriate, inform their volunteer fire department so responders would be aware of the activity. Commissioners asked staff and the sheriff’s office to develop a short, simple checklist for residents who apply for exemptions.

A commissioner moved to rescind the current burn ban and revisit the issue in two weeks; another commissioner seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously; the court recorded the action as “Motion passes without exception.” Court members said the lift is intended to be temporary and that they would place the burn order back on the agenda for review at the next meeting.

No changes to the county’s burn‑ban order text were published at the meeting; staff said they would present any specific checklist or revised procedures to the court before the next action.