Brazos County extends burn ban as drought and dry fuels persist

The Commissioners Court voted on Nov. 4, 2025, to extend Brazos County's burn ban after Emergency Management Coordinator Jason Ware told the court that drought indicators and dry fuels remain a concern and that local emergency services chiefs recommended keeping active restrictions.

Ware said monthly drought-index numbers are increasing and that, while some parts of the county received beneficial rain, vegetation is drying out countywide. He told commissioners that neighboring Grimes, Washington and Burleson counties and several ESDs have maintained bans and that three of the four local ESD chiefs he contacted supported an extension, with the caveat the court or the judge may lift the restriction if conditions change.

The court moved to extend the ban with a motion noting the judge or the court could lift the order if weather conditions permit. A second was made, and the motion was approved by voice vote.

Commissioners discussed specific wildfire drivers including power-line sparks during windy, low-humidity conditions and how periodic cool fronts reduce relative humidity while increasing winds. No specific lifting threshold or end date for the ban was set on the record; commissioners and staff said the court or judge could rescind or amend the order based on future conditions.

Jason Ware is Emergency Management Coordinator for Brazos County and provided the technical briefing and recommendation. Commissioners expressed support for the extension based on the combination of drought-monitor data and local fire chiefs' recommendations.

The extension is a short-term public-safety action; the transcript does not record any ordinance number, administrative order text or an explicit duration for the extension.