With precipitation a rarity and 90-plus-degree days more prevalent than not, the Kendall County Commissioner’s Court has reassigned a Burn Ban for the county.
County Fire Marshal Brady Constantine reminds residents the burn ban is stringent and can result in fines and penalties for those who choose the violate the order, as set forth in Local Government Code 352.
Prohibited Activities
A person violates this 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 but not limited to burning trash, debris, yard waste, trees, brush, and paper.
Burn Ban Exceptions
Exceptions include: Outdoor burning for cooking or heating; and household garbage.
Outdoor burning is allowed when used solely for recreational or ceremonial purposes, or for the noncommercial preparation of food, or exclusively as a means of generating warmth in cold weather.
The exception includes several stipulations:
• Adequate fire suppression equipment in the form of a fire extinguisher or water hose attached to a constant water supply must be immediately available.
• All cooking devices must be propane, natural gas, wood or charcoal powered and must have a complete and full enclosure.
• Campfires must be contained within a fire pit or fire ring that are at least 31 inches in diameter and at least 7 inches high. Wood cannot be piled over the rim of the fire ring. The fire ring must also have a metal screen cover.
• All cooking fires/ heating fires shall not be unattended and shall be completely extinguished before responsible parties leave the site; and, In areas where trash pickup is not available, the burning of household trash is allowed, with restrictions:
• Household trash from personal use of one household may be burned; no commercial burning is allowed.
• The surface around the burn area shall be wetted down.
• Wind speed must be no more than 15 miles per hour.
• Fires must not be left unattended and shall be completely extinguished before responsible parties leave the area.
Constantine said the burn ban order signed by the Commissioners Court “applies to territorial limits of Kendall County that are outside of the limits of an incorporated city or town, or other political subdivision of the state.
Violation Punishment
Anyone violating the order commits a Class C misdemeanor offense; such offenses are punishable by a fine up to $500.
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