Tarrant County has banned any outdoor burning amid dangerously hot weather.
On Tuesday, the Tarrant County Commissioners Court issued an outdoor burn ban for the next 90 days.
Cooking, welding, and the use of fire pits for social gatherings are not included in the ban. Residents must obtain approval from the Tarrant County Fire Marshal if they want to burn outdoors for other purposes.
“The severe drought conditions in unincorporated areas of Tarrant County have prompted the Tarrant County Fire Marshal to request the ban on outdoor burning to protect lives and properties of Tarrant County residents,” the ban order reads. “The Texas A&M Forest Service supports the request for an outdoor burning ban.”
Fire officials recommend that residents in rural areas keep a 30-foot perimeter mowed around homes and buildings to prevent potential fires from reaching their structures.
Residents are also advised to remove unwanted debris and vegetation from their homes and keep water hoses accessible.
The burn order states that Tarrant County is under “imminent threat” of severe damage from wildfires due to drought conditions.
If one does burn outside under the permitted rules, they are only allowed to burn in the unincorporated areas of Tarrant County. They must contact Tarrant County Regional Communications on the day they plan to burn in order to register their address. Additionally, the party who is responsible for the burning must be present at all times.
Burning is allowed no earlier than one hour after sunrise and must end on the same day no later than one hour before sunset. Additionally, burning is not allowed at night. The burn must be downwind and at least 300 feet from structures on neighboring properties. Burning is not allowed if wind speeds are greater than 23 mph.
For a further list of burning guidelines, visit Tarrant County’s burn ban website here.
Violating the order is a Class C Misdemeanor with a fine of up to $500.
The ban comes in response to several wildfires that have swept through Texas in recent weeks. Over the past week, over 60 wildfires have burned more than 10,000 acres across Texas, according to a press release from Gov. Greg Abbott’s office.
On Thursday evening, a lightning strike ignited a wildfire in Mason County in Central Texas.
The fire has burned more than 3,000 acres since Thursday, per KXAN. As of Friday at 10:55 a.m., the fire was 25% contained, and the Texas A&M Forest Services said no structures have been lost.
Mason County Texas AgriLife Extension posted a list of available resources for farmers in the area, which include farming supplies and a large animal evacuation site.