County initiates 90-day burn ban

During Medina County Commissioners Court Tuesday, Medina County Emergency Management Coordinator/Fire Marshal Mark Chadwick informed the court of circumstances present in all or part of the county that could be intensified by outdoor burning.

After hearing Chadwick’s report, commissioners voted for an order, effective Monday, Sept. 8 at 11:59 p.m., banning all outdoor burning in the unincorporated area of the county.

The order  remains in effect for 90 days from the date of adoption unless Medina County Judge Keith  Lutz or Fire Marshal Chadwick determine the circumstances requiring the order no longer  exist.

The order does not prohibit outdoor burning activities  related to public health and safety authorized by Texas Commission  on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)  for:

• firefighter training;

• public utility, natural gas pipeline or mining operations;

• harvesting of agricultural crops;

• burns conducted by a prescribed burn manager certified under Sect. 153.048, Natural Resources Code, and meet the standards of Sect. 153.047, Natural Resources Code  or

• ceremonial fires, provided that advance notice is given of time and location to Medina County Sheriff and to the appropriate fire officials. 

It is further ordered that the burning of brush on property cleared by a Land Clearing Contractor or employees thereof or by the landowner and who remain present during any  such burning with fire containment equipment shall constitute an exception  to the Burn Ban. 

The exception is granted, provided that a notice of exception is obtained from the County Fire Marshal and notice of any such burning is provided in advance to Medina County Sheriff regarding the time and location of such burning.

A violation of this Order, in accord with Local Government Code Sect. 3525.081(h), is a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not to  exceed $500 per each violation.

Two months ago, all of South Central Texas was under several days of round-the-clock flood watches and warnings.

The 10 inches of rain – and more – which fell across the area created lots of rapid grass and brush growth. 

The resulting greening-up of all vegetation has now, with six to eight weeks of high temperatures and almost no precipitation, turned brown and quite flammable.