Extended burn ban will affect New Year’s Eve celebrations

Kendall County’s burn ban will likely extend into the first week of 2026 if the fire marshal and county commissioners see eye-toeye on the matter.

A 90-day burn ban is on the Kendall County Commissioners Court agenda this week when the commissioners assemble Tuesday.

The county’s rising drought index score coupled with continued lack of measurable rainfall puts the county in position to restrict outdoor burning and open fires for a 90-day period starting Oct. 14.

The measure Fire Marshal Brady Constantine will introduce “prohibits or restricts outdoor burning in the unincorporated areas of the county for up to 90 days if drought conditions have been determined to exist” or if conditions are present in all or part of the unincorporated parts of the county, according to the commission agenda packet.

The order, if approved by county commissioners, takes effect at 12:01 a.m. Oct. 14. “In no event shall this order be in effect for more than 90 days, ending at 11:59 p.m. on the Jan. 5, 2026.” Without measurable rainfall, the ban will prohibit most fireworks and aerial celebrations on Dec. 31, New Year’s Eve.

According to the ordinance, a person violates the order if he “ burns or otherwise dispenses, emits, explodes, detonates, throws off or otherwise delivers a spark or fire to, or in the area of, any combustible material,” including trash, debris, yard waste, trees, brush and paper.

Violators commit a Class C misdemeanor offense by “knowingly or intentionally violating ... the restriction established by this order,” punishable by a fine up to $500.

Outdoor burning will be allowed, however, when used solely for recreational or ceremonial purposes or for the noncommercial preparation of food, or if outdoor burning “is a means of generating warmth in cold weather.”

Another exception applies in areas of the county where trash pickup is not available. In this instance, burning household trash is allowed — if it is trash from the personal use of only one household, the surface around the burn area is wetted down first, and wind speed is no more than 15 miles per hour.