Friday, March 29, 2024

County lifts burn ban

Posted

Many Hood County residents will be relieved to know that the ban on outdoor burning has finally been lifted.

That news probably also comes as a relief to the person who answers the phone lines in the Hood County Fire Marshal’s office.

According to Fire Marshal Jeff Young, that office has been fielding about 30 calls per day about the burn ban.

At its regular meeting on Tuesday, April 26, the Commissioners Court acted upon Young’s recommendation and voted unanimously to lift the moratorium, at least for now.

The ban could be re-implemented if drought conditions worsen.

The Commissioners Court issued a 90-day burn ban on Jan. 10, then voted at its regular meeting on Tuesday, April 12, to extend it for another 90 days. However, the county has since received rainfall.

After the meeting, an announcement about the burn ban being lifted was posted on the Hood County Fire Marshal’s Facebook page.

The message included a reminder that people are allowed to burn only dry growth material that is generated on the property where it is burned.

Burning of any other items is prohibited. That includes building materials, paper such as old bills, furniture or household trash.

Violators may be charged with a Class C misdemeanor.

If the fire is found to contain toxic materials, the citation may be enhanced to a Class A misdemeanor and the violator arrested.

Young asks that those who engage in outdoor burning be mindful of wind conditions and postpone burning if winds are gusting. 

Those planning an outdoor burn are asked to visit https://co.hood.tx.us/forms.aspx?fid=52 and fill out a burn notification form that provides the fire marshal’s office with contact information. 

Anyone unable to fill out the form online can call the fire marshal’s office at 817-579-3310 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday-Friday to let staff know about the planned burn. 

Although fire investigators are on call during weekends, the office is not staffed. 

Anyone needing to report a possible illegal fire can call the Hood County Dispatch non-emergency number at 817-579-3310.