A burn ban has been imposed across several counties in the Greater Houston region as worsening drought conditions heighten the threat of wildfires, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.
The restrictions currently apply to Austin, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Liberty, Montgomery, San Jacinto, Polk, Walker, and Wharton counties. Notably, Harris County has not yet issued a burn ban as of Tuesday morning.
In Montgomery County, Judge Mark Keough signed a disaster declaration on Monday, ordering an immediate halt to all outdoor burning, unless specifically permitted by the state and inspected by the Montgomery County Fire Marshal’s Office.
The Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) — a measure of wildfire potential — currently stands at 603 for Montgomery County and 653 for Harris County, both well above the 600-point high-risk threshold, according to Water Data for Texas.
“Prolonged dry weather and critically dry fuels mean even small sparks can quickly become dangerous wildfires,” Judge Keough cautioned in a Facebook post. “Burning of household refuse or rubbish is illegal year-round in Montgomery County, and despite that law, we’ve seen several fires caused by illegal burning in recent days.”
The Montgomery County Fire Marshal’s Office reported a rise in wildfire incidents over the past week. Fire Marshal Jimmy Williams noted that several fires have damaged fences, sheds, and other outdoor property, while two residents in Porter were injured in a recent blaze.
