Travis County issues burn ban as fire danger expected to 'increase significantly'

The Travis County Commissioners Court issued a monthlong burn ban Tuesday, citing an increased fire danger in the coming week

The ban, which went into effect immediately Tuesday, affects the county's unincorporated areas and is set to expire Oct. 26.

“Fire danger is expected to increase significantly over the next 7 to 10 days as humidity levels drop and rain chances remain minimal,” said Travis County Chief Fire Marshal Tony Callaway.

Early Tuesday morning the National Weather Service in Austin issued a fire danger statement as "near critical" fire conditions were expected along the I-35 corridor and in the Hill Country in the afternoon through the evening.

Prescribed burns and "outdoor hot works," such as welding, are not affected by the county's order and are allowed under Travis County Fire Marshal’s guidelines.

Travis County joins 85 other Texas counties currently under a burn ban, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.

Drought conditions have persisted across Texas, with 60% of the state currently under moderate drought status and 78% experiencing abnormally dry conditions, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor data released Thursday.

However, those dry conditions have improved since August when the drought monitor had marked 95% of the state as abnormally dry and 71% under severe drought. Through September of this year, the U.S. Agriculture Department has designated 245 Texas counties as drought disaster destinations.

Thanks to several bouts of rain last month, drought conditions in Travis County and Austin have also improved since August as large portions of the county that were under extreme and exceptional drought have now been downgraded in drought severity. One hundred percent of Travis County is in moderate drought.

“We want to do everything we can to minimize the risk of wildfires, and a new burn ban is a tool we can use to keep our community safe,” Callaway said.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Travis County issues burn ban as fire conditions near critical levels