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Lavaca County imposes burn ban as fire chiefs cite very dry conditions
Summary
The Lavaca County Commissioners Court voted Sept. 23 to implement the county’s second burn ban of 2024 after fire chiefs reported worsening dry conditions and recommended restrictions to protect firefighters and property.
Lavaca County Judge Keith Mudd and the county commissioners voted Sept. 23 to implement the county’s second burn ban of 2024 after local fire chiefs reported rapidly worsening dry conditions.
Chief Tim Decker, who spoke on behalf of the Fire Chiefs Association, said moisture readings and recent weather trends show the county is drier than when the previous ban was lifted and that the association made a unanimous recommendation to impose a burn ban “for the safety of the firefighters going out to these calls, as well as the protection of others.” He added, “This doesn't mean you cannot have a campfire for heating and cooking,” and explained limited, covered barrel burns and cooking fires remain allowable under the ban.
Decker described the county’s moisture metrics, saying the KVDI reading is at approximately 5.78 (indicating low soil moisture) and noted recent hot, dry stretches have reduced available moisture in ground fuels. Commissioners discussed the recommendation and then the judge moved to implement the burn ban; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
The court recorded that prescribed burns performed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture are exempt but must follow the county’s approval process. Commissioners and fire officials said the restriction aims to reduce the number of preventable grass and brush fires and to limit responders’ exposure to rapidly spreading fire conditions.
The ban’s practical limits were explained during the discussion: covered barrel trash burning, cooking and religious‑purpose fires are permitted; large open brush burns and prescribed burns without county approval are not. The court did not set an expiration date during the meeting; officials said the ban will remain in effect until conditions improve and will be revisited by fire chiefs and the court.
The decision took effect following the vote Sept. 23; the judge said neighboring counties were believed to be under similar restrictions in parts of the region, but commissioners did not provide a formal list of adjacent counties under burn bans.
