Texas Counties Implement Burn Bans Amid Ongoing Drought and High Fire Risk

Burn Bans Implemented in Texas Counties

• 🚫 Liberty County has officially approved a burn ban, prohibiting outdoor burning.
• ⚠️ Violators caught burning outdoors in Liberty County face a potential $500 fine.
• 💧 The ban in Liberty County was enacted due to ongoing drought conditions.

Expanding Burn Ban Coverage

• 🗺️ Liberty County joins 112 other counties across Texas that currently have burn bans in effect.
• 📈 Several other counties, including Harris County, have initiated requests for burn bans.
• 📍 Currently, Walker, San Jacinto, Polk, Liberty, Colorado, and Wharton counties are listed with active burn bans.

Fire Weather Risks and Conditions

• 🏜️ The region is experiencing very dry air and a lack of rain over the past few months.
• 💨 A surge of dry air is contributing to elevated fire weather hazards, with dew points in the low 50s.
• 🔥 The Texas A&M Forest Service indicates a fire index rating of three out of five (high risk) for much of the area.
• 🚨 Extreme fire weather risk is specifically noted south of Livingston and in the Piny Woods area north of Houston, urging extra caution for outdoor activities.