Denton County Bans Outdoor Burning as Fire Danger Climbs

Denton County commissioners banned outdoor burning on Tuesday morning, with the restrictions taking effect immediately.

County Fire Marshal Brad Sebastian pointed to abnormal drought conditions in asking for the order, telling commissioners that higher-than-normal temperatures and a lack of rain through July and early August had raised the risk. He said the county had gone more than 30 days without measurable rainfall.

The ban holds until the state of disaster is terminated by the Commissioners Court or by County Judge Andy Eads.

What is prohibited

Burning combustible material outdoors, or allowing it on your property, is barred. Emergency Services Districts No. 1 and No. 2 define that to include wood, lumber, leaves, brush and material used in welding and similar work.

Outdoor cooking is barred unless the device runs on propane or natural gas and is fully enclosed and kept closed while in use.

A violation carries a fine of up to $500. Property damage caused by reckless outdoor burning or by discharging fireworks can carry further consequences under state law.

Texas law lets a commissioners court restrict outdoor burning in the unincorporated part of a county, not inside a city. Residents inside Denton city limits are governed by the city's own rules rather than by the county order.

The conditions behind it

Fire crews have been busy for weeks. A grass fire near Ponder burned about 125 acres on Sunday evening, and Sebastian warned that the frequency of grass fires is likely to rise if the weather holds.

The Denton County Sheriff's Office has flagged wildfires elsewhere in the state, including the Ross Fire in Palo Pinto County, which it put at roughly 50,000 acres and 5 percent containment.

The office noted that residents may smell smoke from fires far away without any flames nearby, and asked people to confirm what they are seeing before calling it in so crews are not sent to unverified reports.

The Texas A&M Forest Service has most of the region under very high to extreme fire danger.