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COLORADO COUNTY
Colorado County Judge Ty Prause has issued a Burn Ban Order effective Sept. 16 for the unincorporated areas of Colorado County.
The emergency burn ban declaration places restrictions on outdoor burning.
Due to a lack of rainfall, outdoor burning has public safety hazard which could threaten life and property in Colorado County, Prause said.
Outdoor burning banned Unless an exception appears below, the use of combustible materials in an outdoor environment by any person is prohibited. Combustible materials include but are not limited to the use of all fireworks, burning of trash, brush and open campfires and materials used outdoors in activities that could result in a fire.
Outdoor cigarette/cigar smoking is banned unless each cigarette/ cigar and ashes are deposited into an appropriate receptacle known to extinguish combustion and customarily used for such purpose.
Exceptions
The following outdoor activities shall be allowed provided they are attended at all times and all following precautionary rules and measures are strictly followed:
• Household Trash. Burning household trash in a receptacle that is enclosed and covered with a mesh material with no more than 1/4 inch openings and supervised in a safe area clear of debris.
• Barbecues using above-ground grills, with enclosed: fireboxes, in a safe area clear of debris or other combustible materials and attended at all times.
• Controlled burns necessary for planting and harvesting agricultural crops with a defensible space around the burn area, presence of fire suppression tools, and personal presence during the entire controlled burn.
• Authorized by TCEQ. This order does not prohibit outdoor burning activities related to public health and safety that are authorized by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for: (1) :firefighting training; (2) public utility, natural gas pipeline or mining operations; (3) planting or harvesting of agriculture crops; or (4) bums that are conducted by a prescribed bum manager certified under Section 153.048, Natural Resource Code, and meet the standards of Section 153.047, Natural Resource Code.
• Attwater Prairie Chicken Refuge maintenance activities.
• Non-Profit & Religious Organizations shall be allowed to prepare barbecue provided they contact their local fire department in advance for a site visit by a member of the department and fo llow all precautionary measures directed by such department.
• Outdoor Welding shall only be allowed under the following circumstances: welding, cutting and grinding associated with welding activities shall not take place when the wind is over 15 miles per hour; the welder must notify the Colorado County Sheriff’s Department before any welding, cutting or grinding begins; all grass, leaves, brush and other easily combustible materials must be cleared with a twenty (20) foot radius surrounding the area were activity is to take place before any welding, cutting or grinding begins; and, a spotter with water and a ready pressurized delivery system must be on hand before any welding, cutting or grinding begins and remain on hand until the activity is completed.
