Public Information Office
210 S. McDonald St. Suite 540
McKinney, TX  75069

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Leigh Hornsby, Public Information Officer
972-548-4772
publicrelations@co.collin.tx.us

July 15, 2003

Collin County issues an outdoor burning ban

(McKinney, TX) -- Collin County Judge Ron Harris today accepted a request from the fire marshal to ban all outdoor burning for the next 90 days. The fire marshal used the Keetch-Byram Drought Index to help determine if a burn ban was necessary. In the range between 400-600, fire intensity begins to significantly increase. Collin County has reached a maximum of 485 and the forecast indicates the KBDI for Collin County to be between 600-700 on July 25, 2003.

Despite last month’s rainstorms, there still isn’t enough moisture to curtail the area’s dry conditions. So, the request was approved in an effort to increase public safety.

The burn ban is for all unincorporated areas of the county and does not prohibit outdoor burning activities related to public health and safety that are authorized by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for: firefighter training, public utility, natural gas pipeline or mining operations; planting or harvesting of agricultural crops; or burns that are conducted by a prescribed burn manager certified under Section 153.048, Natural Resources Code, and meet the standards of Section 153.047.

According to Fire Marshal Steve Deffibaugh, there are ways citizens can help reduce the risk of fires. “Make sure areas around structures are kept mowed. The shorter the grass, the less fuel to a fire. The flames also don’t travel as fast if the grass is short.”

The fire marshal’s office has recently received a number of complaints about tall grass in areas throughout the county. “When we get complaints of this nature, we investigate to determine if the property is in violation of the Texas Health and Safety Code, and we take appropriate action to get the violators to bring their property into compliance,” says Deffibaugh. “The downside of this is we have to give them 30 days to comply.”

Although Judge Harris signed the order to prohibit the outdoor burning today, the Commissioners’ Court is scheduled to ratify the order next week. The burn ban will remain in effect for the 90 day period unless conditions exist which would allow for the extension or lifting of the ban.

When a burn ban is not in effect, a burn permit is required to do any outdoor burning in Collin County. The basic law is that no one can burn normal household garbage and can only burn natural vegetation to the property with a permit. Applications for burn permits can be obtained at the Collin County website, www.co.collin.tx.us.

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Additional information can be obtained by contact the Fire Marshal’s Office at 972-548-5589.