McLennan County commissioners approve emergency burn ban for unincorporated areas

The McLennan County Commissioners Court approved an emergency order prohibiting outdoor burning in the county’s unincorporated areas after hearing emergency management officials’ assessment that drought conditions and fuel accumulation have raised wildfire risk.

The action came during a brief emergency meeting called under the Open Meetings Act to address an imminent threat from brush and grass fires, court staff said. Miss Garland, speaking to open the meeting, said, "The agenda was posted on Wednesday, 10/15/2025 at 11:30AM." The court then heard a recommendation from the county’s emergency management office.

"A lot of our indicators that generally concern us with wildfires are on the rise," said Ryan Durker, Emergency Management coordinator, citing the Keetch-Byram Drought Index. He said portions of the county had readings "over 650" and that "our average right now is 587." Durker said the Office of Emergency Management uses a 575 reading "as kind of our floor for when we really have a problem and it's time to come visit about a burn ban." He added that forecasts included "small amounts of rain" but "nothing significant" likely to relieve dry conditions.

Durker also warned that two wet summers have left large amounts of unburned vegetation that could serve as fuel if fires start. He noted neighboring counties had already begun issuing burn bans.

After the presentation, a commissioner moved "to approve the burn ban," which was seconded. The court chair called for the vote; those in favor said "aye." The motion passed, with the court announcing the ban and adjourning the emergency meeting.

The court did not record a detailed vote tally in the meeting transcript provided. The transcript does not specify the exact text of the burn-ban order beyond prohibiting outdoor burning in unincorporated areas, nor does it state enforcement details or an effective duration. No follow-up tasks, effective date, or sunset date were recorded in the transcript.

Court staff closed the meeting with no further items on the agenda.

Provenance: The recommendation to institute a burn ban and the subsequent vote appear in the court's emergency meeting transcript, including the Office of Emergency Management's KBDI figures and the vote approving the ban.