Hays County Burn Ban Reinstated

Hays County Courthouse, San Marcos, TX – Hays County on Tuesday reinstated a burn ban for unincorporated areas (including extra territorial jurisdictions) of the County effective immediately. Charcoal, wood and gas grills with lids are exempt from the ban, but burning in “burn barrels” (including barrels with screens on the top) is not allowed.

“Low humidity, lack of rain and dry winter grasses and brush combined with frequent high or gusty winds makes outdoor burning a concern,” Hays County Assistant Fire Marshal Clint C. Browning said. The fire marshal uses the Texas Forest Service’s drought index (KBDI), fire frequency observations and input from countywide fire chiefs to determine whether a burn ban is necessary. Browning told the Commissioner Court that fire chiefs agreed it was time to reinstate the ban.

Browning reminds citizens to keep a water source nearby when grilling outside, keep the grill away from the house or any other combustible materials, and never leave a grill unattended by an adult until you are certain it is properly extinguished.