Comal County’s burn ban remains in effect despite heavy rains last week.
Today’s Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) for the county is 620.
“By state law we must use this drought index for the burn ban,” County Fire Marshal Kory Klabunde said. “Our burn ban normally goes into effect when the KBDI reaches 500. Currently we are 120 points drier than when the burn ban would go into effect.
“The KBDI has been as high as 764 before we started getting the rain,” he said. “The KBDI only goes to 800 as a max. For every 100 points of the KBDI is one-inch-down you have to go find moisture. Zero being water on the surface and 800 being moisture is one-inch down in the soil. Please be careful and safe.”
No brush fires, campfires, burn barrels, fire pits (rings) or other open flames are allowed during this time.
For more information about the burn ban visit the Fire Marshal’s webpage.
However, Guadalupe County commissioners lifted their county’s burn ban today.
Starting Wednesday, residents are allowed to burn under the following conditions:
- No burning prior to sunrise or after sunset.
- No burning if wind speeds are les than six miles-per-hour (mph) or greater than 23 mph.
- Must have a water source that can reach the area where the fire is located.
- Must stay with the fire until it’s extinguished.
- No illegal materials can burned at anytime, including but not limited to treated lumber, tires, shingles, etc.
- Household trash and brush can be burned.
For more information visit co.guadalupe.tx.us/fire/fire.php.
