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(ARCHIVE PHOTO | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Members of the Murray Volunteer Fire Department control a fire on FM 3109 which broke out July 30, 2023 in Young County and threatened structures. The Young County Commissioners Court enacted a burn ban Monday, March 10 that restricts all outdoor burning in the county.
The Young County Commissioners Court voted to enact a burn ban that will run through October unless terminated earlier by the court or the county judge.
The commissioners ordered the ban Monday, July 28 due to the public safety hazard present if burning was allowed.
Young County Judge Win Graham said a burn ban was requested by the county volunteer fire departments as well the emergency management coordinators.
The county judge was previously granted authority to lift a burn ban by the commissioners. He said lifting the burn ban would only happen after consulting with first responders throughout the county.
“I have a text group with all of our volunteer fire department chiefs, Jarod (Cook) from TDEM, the Olney EMC, the Graham EMC (and) the Young County EMC. It’s a pretty big group and they advise me,” Graham said. “Every week I put out there, ‘What do you think about a burn ban?’ And then we have a debate on that.”
All outdoor burning in the county is prohibited from the date of the order. A violation of the order is a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $500.
This order does not prohibit outdoor burning related to public health and safety authorized by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for firefighter training, burns prescribed by a prescribed burn manager or public utility, natural gas pipeline or mining operations.
Additionally, the order does not prohibit commercial or professional welding operations.
Texas A&M Forest Service has marked the Texas Wildland Fire Preparedness Level at Level 1, with minimal drought and normal fuel moisture allowing local resources to suppress wildfires without issues.
There were no wildfires that were not 100% contained across the state that TAMFS responded to as of Monday, July 28.
The organization stated that 90% of wildfires are caused by people and their activities with debris burning and equipment use being the two major causes of wildfires in the state.
To prepare for wildfires, TAMFS suggests creating a kit with supplies, prescriptions, important papers, personal needs and priceless items as well as pet supplies. State residents should also plan an evacuation route in a vehicle or cell phone.
