Guadalupe County issues outdoor burning ban as drought indices rise
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Summary
Fire marshal recommended and commissioners approved an order prohibiting outdoor burning after staff reported Keetch-Byram drought-index values above local thresholds and neighboring counties under burn bans.
Guadalupe County Commissioners Court approved an order prohibiting outdoor burning on Sept. 2 after County Fire Marshal and Emergency Management Coordinator Patrick Pender recommended a burn ban, citing elevated Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) values across the region.
Pender reported KBDI readings in nearby counties and noted Guadalupe County’s own index was at 616 — above the county’s typical threshold for considering a burn ban. He said neighboring counties including Bexar, Comal, Wilson, Hays and Gonzales were showing elevated KBDI values and several had already implemented burn bans. Pender recommended the court approve the ban; the court adopted the order and staff said the effective date would be revised to the morning after adoption.
Why it matters: High KBDI values indicate dry fuels and an increased risk of wildfire. A burn ban limits outdoor burning activities to reduce the likelihood of human-caused fires and protects public safety.
Implementation: The Fire Marshal/Emergency Management Coordinator will publish the ban order and notify dispatch and the public of the restriction’s effective date.
