Wichita County delays burn ban after volunteer fire chiefs advise against it

Wichita County officials discussed whether to issue a countywide burn ban but took no action at the Nov. 4 Commissioners Court meeting.

Emergency management staff told the court the county remains "abnormally dry" and reported a KDBI average of about 467, below the 575 threshold staff use as a primary indicator. Staff said the majority of volunteer fire chiefs recommended not initiating a burn ban at this time so residents could still conduct some permitted burns. Officials said recent fires in the county have tended to be electrical or roadside starts rather than permitted controlled burns.

County leaders said they would revisit the issue on a weekly basis given a dry long-range forecast and the potential for fall winds to increase fire risk. One staff presenter said chiefs will be polled again at the November meeting of regional fire chiefs next week and the court plans to put the item back on the agenda in a couple of weeks.

No formal motion was made to enact a burn ban; the court recorded no vote and left the item open for reconsideration.