The Lavaca County Commissioners on Dec. 23 voted to keep the county's burn ban in force after hearing a unanimous recommendation from the Fire Chiefs Association.

Tim Decker, representing the association, told the court that recent rains improved ground moisture but that surface fuels remain dry and KBDI indices varied across the region; after polling local chiefs, the association recommended keeping the ban in place for now. "When every fire chief was asked, they all voted unanimously yes to keep the burn ban on," Decker said.

The court discussed limited exceptions previously approved by a special call meeting for the sale and use of certain fireworks. Staff clarified that fireworks stands were instructed not to sell stick-type rockets or missiles with fins; permitted fireworks include mortar rounds, roman candles and sparklers that cool before landing. Decker advised that small contained burns (a barrel with lid and screen) for household trash remain permissible during the ban when properly screened.

Commission action: A motion by Precinct 1 to keep the burn ban in effect (with the limited fireworks exceptions described) carried unanimously. The presiding judge noted he retains executive-order authority to enact or lift the ban with a required public meeting to ratify the order within seven days.

Next steps: Fire chiefs agreed to keep monitoring conditions and to re-evaluate if substantial rain occurs or at the next commissioners meeting; commissioners penciled a possible special called meeting for Jan. 6 to address sheriff's department items and will revisit the burn-ban status as needed.