Texas summers are notorious for being hot and dry, and this year has been no exception. With warmer weather expected to continue, burn bans have begun to take effect all across the state. This could initiate a change of plans for anyone wanting to celebrate Independence Day with traditional fireworks. With July 4th only a week away, here is a preliminary look at burn bans throughout the Hill Country.
Lifestyle
Current Burn Bans Across Texas and What They Mean for You
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Photo: Facebook/Fire/Ems incidents for Burnet County
According to the Texas A&M Forest Service, burn bans are in effect for 60 counties across the state, (for more information and images of the affected areas, please follow the link.) Of the 25 counties that encompass the Hill Country, 12 currently prohibit any type of outdoor burning at the time of this writing. These counties include:
- Brown
- Burnet
- Crockett
- Edwards
- Kendall
- Kerr
- McCullouch
- Menard
- Real
- Schleicher
- Sutton
- Val Verde
However, there is good news. The forest service also estimates the majority of Hill Country currently sits somewhere on the “low” to “moderate” end of their fire danger scale.
While fireworks are an integral part of many Independence Day celebrations, the truth is they can also wreak havoc on a water deficient environment. Typically, county judges or county commissioner courts set burn bans in place in an attempt to protect the residents of their county. It might take some reconfiguring and a little bit of imagination, but ultimately it is possible to have a successful celebration without running the risk of setting your neighborhood ablaze with a sparkler. We promise your neighbors will thank you.
