Commissioners Court Implements Burn Ban, Cites Increasingly Dry Conditions
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Comal County Commissioners Court reinstated the unpopular burn ban this morning, citing increasingly dry conditions.
Calls to emergency services for non-controlled fires are increasing across the county, Fire Marshal Kory Klabunde said.
“A lot of the vegetation that grew during the spring has now died or gone dormant because of the recent hot and dry weather, and the weather forecast indicates the heat is only going to get worse,” he said. “The current conditions are not safe to have an open flame outside.”
As of Thursday, the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) reached 551, well above the 500-point threshold required for implementing a burn ban. Every 100 points of the KBDI is roughly equivalent to an inch of dry soil depth.
The burn ban takes effect at 6 a.m. Friday and lasts for 90 days or until the fire danger recedes.
Burn Ban Guidance and Restrictions
- Under new restrictions, no open flames are allowed outdoors, including trash burning, campfires and torches among others.
- Residents may use a barbecue pit with an open flame for cooking purposes only if the grill has a lid and is set off the ground.
- Welders are encouraged to use a spotter for any outdoor welding and to keep a water source nearby.
More information is available on the Fire Marshal Office’s webpage, mycomalcounty.com/Fire_Marshal.htm, and Facebook page, facebook.com/ComalCountyFireMarshalsOffice.
