Colorado County imposes 90‑day outdoor burning restriction amid dry conditions

Colorado County on Monday adopted a 90‑day restriction on outdoor burning in unincorporated areas, citing severe weather and a heightened wildfire risk.

The order, approved unanimously by the Commissioners Court, bans use of combustible materials outdoors except under specified exceptions and safety conditions. Commissioner Keith Neuendorff, who moved the measure, said the restriction is intended to mitigate the public‑safety hazard presented by current dry conditions.

The restriction prohibits open campfires, trash and brush burning, the use of fireworks and similar activities unless an exception applies. Allowed activities include supervised barbecues using above‑ground grills, enclosed household trash receptacles with mesh covers, certain controlled agricultural burns conducted with a defensible space and a person present, and burns authorized by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for firefighting training, utility or pipeline work, and prescribed burns conducted by certified managers.

The order also permits routine refuge maintenance at the Attwater Prairie Chicken Refuge and limited outdoor welding when precautionary measures are met: welding only when winds are under 15 mph, notification to the sheriff’s office, a cleared 20‑foot radius, and a spotter with pressurized water on hand.

Violating the order is classified as a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $500, according to the text the court adopted. The order, adopted under Texas Local Government Code §352.081, will remain in effect for 90 days unless the court terminates it earlier.

The court posted the order and its list of exceptions as part of the official minutes. The restriction was approved 5‑0, with no public comments recorded during the meeting.