AUSTIN, Texas — A burn ban has been issued for the unincorporated areas of Travis County, effective immediately on Tuesday, Feb. 8.
The burn ban will expire on Wednesday, March 9, unless further action is taken by the Travis County judge or county fire marshal before then.
“We’re expecting humidity levels to drop significantly beginning Tuesday afternoon, and that can lead to increased wildfire danger” said Travis County Chief Fire Marshal Tony Callaway. “Therefore, a new burn ban is needed to ensure the public’s safety.”
This ban on outdoor burning does not affect prescribed burns conducted under the supervision of a prescription burn manager, the County said on Tuesday. It also does not affect outdoor welding, cutting or grinding operations, and outdoor hot works operations conducted in accordance with the guidelines established by the Travis County Fire Marshal’s Office.
The Travis County fire marshal urges caution when conducting outdoor grilling and barbecuing. It is recommended residents have water nearby in case of a fire. Call 911 immediately if a fire gets out of control.
Anyone with any questions about the burn ban is asked to contact the Fire Marshal’s Office at 512-854-4621.
In cooperation with personnel from local fire departments and natural resource agencies, Travis County is planning a prescribed burn at Reimers Ranch Park on Feb. 9. The prescribed burns will occur between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. and will take around two to four hours.
The final decision for the burns will be determined by the weather and other considerations that Wednesday. It is intended to reduce wildfire danger and improve ecosystem health by removing invading shrubs, consuming dead and downed vegetation, reducing the number of exotic species, and enhancing the health and diversity of the native plant community.
Reimers Ranch Park will be closed for all or part of the day.
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