Brazos County enacts temporary burn ban as drought index rises

Brazos County Commissioners Court on Oct. 3 approved a countywide burn ban after the county’s emergency management coordinator said drought-index readings had risen and recent grass fires had damaged two structures.

Jason Ware, Brazos County emergency management coordinator, told the court the county’s average drought index was about 687, with a high of roughly 721 and a low around 637. He said the county has seen approximately five grass fires in the last seven days and that two of those fires on Saturday resulted in one structure destroyed and another damaged, both described as abandoned. Ware and the four county fire chiefs recommended the ban.

Ware said county fire departments contained the recent fires quickly and estimated total acreage lost at about 10 acres. He told the court the dry conditions and the drought-index readings made the likelihood of wildfires “drastically” higher and that a burn ban was recommended by Brazos County Emergency Management and the fire chiefs.

Under the burn ban approved by the court, outdoor burning is prohibited. Welding is allowed only after notifying the county dispatch nonemergency line and requires on-site water and a spotter to control sparks. Enclosed barbecue pits are permitted if they contain all sparks, are not left unattended and have surrounding vegetation cleared.

Commissioner Wanda Watson moved to adopt the ban; Commissioner Bentley Nettles seconded. The court voted to approve the burn ban.

The order’s text as read during the meeting specifies operational guidance for permitted activities (welding, enclosed barbecue use) and contact procedures with county dispatch for permitted hot work. The court recorded no conditions or sunset date in the public discussion during the meeting.

Commissioners and emergency management officials urged residents to exercise fire safety and report welding or other permitted hot work to the dispatch center at the number Ware provided during the meeting.