Wichita County delays decision on burn ban after fire chiefs advise waiting
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
After consultation with local fire chiefs, Wichita County commissioners declined to impose a countywide burn ban Tuesday and agreed to revisit the question in one week as weather and conditions evolve.
Wichita Falls — Wichita County officials decided Tuesday not to impose a countywide burn ban, saying they would reconsider the question after a short monitoring period.
Emergency management/fire marshal Dwayne Birkenfeld reported that local fire chiefs and emergency personnel asked the court to wait a week and "see where we're at" because moisture and forecasts could change conditions over the holiday period. "Come back Tuesday, it may have a different story," Birkenfeld said when urging the court to delay action.
Commissioners agreed to take no action and to discuss the issue again at the next scheduled court session. Birkenfeld and chiefs noted local controlled burns and welding activity have generally followed safety practices but warned that wind and dryer conditions could still create risk over the coming weekend.
Why it matters: A burn ban restricts open burning and can affect agricultural and residential activities. County officials said they wanted to avoid unnecessarily restricting controlled burning while recognizing the potential for rapidly changing fire conditions.
What happens next: The court will revisit the burn-ban question at the next Tuesday session; meanwhile, officials urged residents and contractors to exercise caution and follow local safety guidance.