Burn ban continues as fire dangers remain

Continuing dry conditions with little to no relief in sight prompted the Coryell County Commissioners Court to continue its burn ban, and also to prohibit the sale of fireworks for the Memorial Day holiday.

Although parts of the county enjoyed some rainfall the first week in May, record high temperatures, some of which are expected to reach triple digits, are in the forecast with the summer months still ahead.

“We have had some rain, but it’s my belief in talking to (Gatesville Fire Chief) Billy Vaden and a couple others (regarding potentially dangerous fire conditions) and with below average rainfall and continuing dryness that this remains a concern,” said County Judge Roger Miller.

He noted that there had been more than 300 calls received following the rainfall requesting the burn ban be lifted so people could burn brush. The county did that for a brief period – from May 6-8 – but then reinstated the ban.

“I don’t like restricting our citizens but want to err on the side of caution to protect our communities and our firefighting resources,” Miller said,

Bob Harrell, emergency management director for Coryell County, said conditions support the continued burn ban.

“We’re getting 10 to 20 mile an hour winds with gusts up to 30 miles an hour, and we have less than a 10% chance of rain,” he said. “We’re looking at below average rainfall and have had one of the warmest starts to May drying things out. We’ve also got to be careful we don’t exceed the maximum gigawatt load and lose power.

“It’s going to get hotter and drier, so we need to be able to manage it.”

Commissioner Kyle Matthews agreed that the best course of action is to continue the burn ban.

“We need to stay with the restrictions prohibiting burning,” he said.

Also in response to fire dangers, the commissioners court opted to not authorize the sale of fireworks for the Memorial Day holiday.

“With current conditions, (approving the sale) would be a contradiction,” Miller said.

“I don’t like the idea – I hate to spoil anybody’s fun, but it’s just too dry,” Matthews said.

County Attorney Brandon Belt asked if the order would prohibit the discharge of fireworks or just selling them.

Miller said the order would only prohibit the sale.

“I don’t see much use restricting the sale if you’re not going to restrict the use,” Belt said. He added that at times the discharge of fireworks with sticks or fins are prohibited.

Miller said a certain level on the drought index must be reached in order to prohibit discharging fireworks, and that level has not yet been reached.

A two-week projection on the drought index indicates that level is not expected to be reached within that timeframe.