County enacts first burn ban in over a year

The Young County Commissioners’ Court enacted a burn ban for the county on Tuesday, Oct. 15. This is the first burn ban since a ban which lasted from July 9 to Sept. 10, 2018.

Young County Judge John Bullock was the first member of the court to voice his opinion on the ban.

“I’m coming to the conclusion that it may be about time to issue one of those(a burn ban,)” Bullock said. “Just, if nothing else, for people to be aware.”

Pct. 1 Commissioner Mike Sipes agreed with the judge, with the pair adding the summer and a freeze on Saturday, Oct. 12 created a lot of burnable brush and a burn ban for awareness should benefit the county.

“I have had a few people contact me and, I guess, admonish a little bit about why we haven’t had one(burn ban) on,” Bullock said. “We have had one pretty major fire (Dustin Hudson Fire) between Newcastle and Olney and another one close to the Jean area. Both of them were controlled burns.”

The Dustin Hudson fire was ignited near Jeffery Road Sunday and burned 750 acres before being extinguished by a combined effort of the Olney Fire Department, Young County Rural Volunteer Fire Departments and the Texas A&M Forest Service.

“I wouldn’t be for the burn ban right now,” Pct. 2 Commissioner Matt Pruitt said. “I am thinking we might get some rain anyways.”

The ban was passed by a 3-1 vote with Bullock, Sipes and Pct. 3 Commissioner Stacey Rogers voting in favor of placing the ban. Pruitt voted against the ban and Pct. 4 Commissioner Jimmy Wiley was not attendance at the meeting.

For the rest of the story, see the Saturday, Oct. 19 edition of The Graham Leader.