Lance Brown, Jim Wells County emergency management coordinator, told the Commissioners Court on Jan. 12 that the county’s burn ban remains in effect and urged residents to avoid outdoor burning.

Brown said the county’s Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) readings remain elevated “in the 6 hundreds,” and he warned that National Weather Service forecasts show only localized, low-probability showers rather than meaningful rainfall. He said neighboring jurisdictions were at or nearing thresholds that prompt burn restrictions.

“We just need to make sure that we do it in a safe way and protect our county,” Brown said, adding: “So everybody, please just continue to be safe. Do not burn.” He said agricultural burning is often necessary as farmers prepare for harvest but asked residents and landowners to coordinate with emergency management and the sheriff’s office.

Brown told the court that residents who need assistance should contact the sheriff’s department, which will dispatch emergency management as appropriate: “If you need to get with me, please get with me. Call the sheriff’s department. They’ll dispatch you to me.”

The advisory noted specific local indicators and neighboring-county conditions cited by Brown; he said KBDI values were in the 600-range and that Nueces County had exceeded its threshold as of the previous week. The court did not take separate action on the advisory at the meeting.