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Commissioners adopt temporary Red Flag burn ban for unincorporated McLennan County
Summary
The Court adopted an order banning outdoor burning in unincorporated McLennan County during National Weather Service Red Flag Warnings, citing high winds and fire spread risk; the order is effective for 90 days and carries misdemeanor penalties for violations.
On July 7 the Commissioners Court adopted an emergency- style burn ban tied to National Weather Service Red Flag Warnings. The order finds that high winds create a public-safety hazard that would be exacerbated by outdoor burning and therefore "outdoor burning is BANNED in unincorporated areas of McLennan County during any period where McLennan County or any portion thereof is under a RED FLAG WARNING issued by the National Weather Service." The ban runs for 90 days from the order date and can be extended by the Court.
The order cites Texas Local Government Code Section 352.081 as statutory authority for counties to prohibit outdoor burning when drought or hazardous conditions exist. The Court approved the red-flag order by unanimous vote; the order notes that violation of the burn ban is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500. The measure also clarifies that the Red Flag Warning burn ban is separate from and does not replace drought-based burn bans the Court may impose.
