Parker County implements 90-day outdoor burn ban,

Aug. 14—Due to the current severe drought conditions and the very dry conditions, Parker County

commissioners Monday issued a 90-day burn ban across Parker County.

The ban followed an emergency declaration from Gov. Greg Abbott on Aug. 11 for a state of disaster due to the existence and imminent threat of wildfires through Texas.

Counties included under proclamation are Anderson, Andrews, Angelina, Aransas, Archer, Atascosa, Austin, Bailey, Bandera, Bastrop, Baylor, Bell, Bexar, Blanco, Borden, Bosque, Brazos, Brewster, Briscoe, Brooks, Brown, Burleson, Burnet, Caidwell, Calhoun, Callahan, Cameron, Cass, Castro, Chambers, Cherokee, Clay, Cochran, Coke, Coleman, Colorado, Comal, Comanche, Concho, Cooke, Coryell, Crockett, Crosby, Culberson, Dallas, Denton, DeWitt, Dimmit, Duval, Eastland, Ector, Edwards, El Paso, Ellis, Erath, Falls, Fannin, Fayette, Fort Bend, Freestone, Frio, Gaines, Galveston, Garza, Gillespie, Glasscock, Goliad, Gonzales, Gregg, Grimes, Guadalupe, Hale, Hamilton, Hardeman, Hardin, Harris, Harrison, Hays, Henderson, Hidalgo, Hill, Hood, Houston, Howard, Hudspeth, Hunt, Jack, Jackson, Jasper, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Johnson, Karnes, Kaufman, Kendall, Kenedy, Kerr, Kimble, King, Kleberg, Knox, La Salle, Lamb, Lampasas, Lavaca, Lee, Leon, Liberty, Limestone, Llano, Madison, Marion, Martin, Mason, Matagorda, Maverick, McCulloch, McLennan, Medina, Menard, Midland, Milam, Mills, Mitchell, Montague, Montgomery, Nacogdoches, Navarro, Newton, Nolan, Nueces, Orange, Palo Pinto, Panola, Parker, Polk, Potter, Presidio, Randall, Reagan, Real, Red River, Reeves, Refugio, Robertson, Rockwall, Runnels, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, San Patricio, San Saba, Schleicher, Scurry, Shackelford, Shelby, Smith, Somervell, Starr, Stephens, Tarrant, Taylor, Terrell, Throckmorton, Tom Green, Travis, Trinity, Tyler, Upshur, Upton, Val Verde, Van Zandt, Victoria, Walker, Waller, Ward, Washington, Wharton, Wichita, Wilbarger, Williamson, Wilson, Winkler, Wise, Yoakum, Young, Zapata, and Zavala.

Currently in Parker County, 100% of the county is listed as abnormally dry, and 66.85% of Parker County additionally classified as in severe drought. Also, the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI), maintained by Texas A&M Agrilife Research and Texas A&M Forest Service, is an index that is used to determine fire potential and the current KBDI indicates a KDBI of 762 as the average for Parker County as of Monday.

County Judge Pat Deen urged residents to be vigilant and cautious to not allow sparks or flames, which could easily cause a fire.

"Parker County is very dry and we are concerned about individuals starting fires by discarding their cigarettes and not paying attention to how and where they are welding, which can endanger people, livestock and property," Parker County EMC/Fire Marshal Sean Hughes said. "This is a safety measure for all of Parker County and we fully support the Gov, Abbott's Emergency Declaration."

The Parker County 90 day Burn Ban may be lifted and reinstated at any time at the discretion of commissioners or the fire marshal.

For more information, contact the Parker County Fire Marshal's office at 817-598-0969.