Lavaca County lifts burn ban after heavy northern rains; south of county remains dry

Lavaca County officials lifted the countywide burn ban immediately after hearing that heavy weekend rains improved conditions across much of the county but left southern areas dry.

County emergency personnel told the commissioners' court at its April 14 meeting that gauges and local reports showed 4 to 8 inches of rain in the northern half of the county while parts of the south remained short. The county's emergency coordinator said all six fire chiefs recommended lifting the ban for now but emphasized residents should call in burns and take precautions in known "hot spots" such as Sweet Home, Speaks, Perryville and the Crossroads area.

The coordinator explained the decision was informed by the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI), which the county monitors; summertime trigger values are typically 500. "We do still have some dry areas," the coordinator said, and the chiefs asked the court to lift the ban for the north while continuing caution elsewhere. Commissioners asked for a map of dry areas to be printed and circulated to the court.

The court voted to lift the burn ban by voice vote; the presiding judge said an order would be signed and the lift is effective immediately. Officials said the county will continue to monitor KBDI values ahead of the May 1 seasonal shift in thresholds and urged anyone conducting burns to notify the sheriff's office so local departments can coordinate response if conditions change.

Public-safety staff also noted a small recent uptick in structure fires in the county during the storm period and praised local responders for rescues during lightning-struck incidents. The court's action ends the active burn restriction for now but leaves local chiefs and emergency managers able to reinstate limits if conditions worsen.