Effective Immediately- Burn Ban Issued
Effective immediately, June 16, 2008, County Judge Dan A. Gattis has instituted a burn ban for all of Williamson County. This will remain in effect until further notice. A person violates this order if he burns any combustible material outside of an enclosure which serves to contain all flames and/or sparks, or orders such burning by others. The burn ban prohibits the burning of household yard waste, such as leaves, grass, brush and other yard trimmings. It also prohibits burning to clear land of trees, stumps, shrubbery, or other natural vegetation. The purpose of the burn ban is to mitigate the hazard posed by wild fires during the current hot, dry weather by curtailing the practice of outdoor burning. This order may be enforced by any duly-commissioned peace officer.
Williamson County also has lifted the restriction on the sale and use of aerial fireworks as the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) for Williamson County did not reach the required level of 575 by June 15. Williamson County is at a level of 520. The legislation states that counties must enact such a restriction by June 15 before the July 4 fireworks season. The Williamson County Commissioners Court took action at their last meeting prior to June 15 so the action would be in place if the KBDI requirement was met by the deadline.