Burn Ban Could Be Implemented at Commissioners Court Thursday
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The ‘burn ban’ is on the agenda for Commissioners Court Thursday.
Today’s Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) for Comal County is 477. County Judge Sherman Krause typically implements a burn ban once the KBDI reaches 500.
Fire Marshal Kory Klabunde said if it appears the drought index is going up between 10 to 15 points a day anyway, commissioners probably will approve a burn ban rather than wait another week.
The KBDI was 467 yesterday. The index measures the amount of precipitation necessary to return the soil to full-field capacity, according to Texas A&M. Zero is the point of no-moisture deficiency and 800 is the maximum drought that is possible.
Between 400 to 600, typical of late summer and early fall, “lower litter and duff layers contribute to fire intensity and will burn actively.”
Klabunde said it’s “very impressive” that Comal County made it through the entire summer without the need to implement a burn ban.
The western part of the county has seen some recent rainfall activity, while from Canyon Lake east rainfall has been sparse.
“We’re kind of split in two right now,” he said.
For more information or to review Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) guidelines for outdoor burning, click here.
