Bastrop, Tx–Following a long weekend of welcome rainfall, Bastrop County commissioners voted today to life a months-long ban on outdoor burning. They acted, as expected, on the recommendation of Mike Fisher, the county’s emergency management coordinator.
Most parts of the county saw rainfall totals of three to seven inches in recent days, substantially lowering the risk of another wildfire disaster like the one which struck in the Lost Pines on Feb. 28, said Fisher. The rains lowered a widely used drought index (known as KBDI) to 302 on Monday, he said.
The top of the drought index scale is 800, and in recent weeks the calculated number at times topped 700, making Bastrop County one of the most drought-stricken areas in Texas during an extended and severe dry period.
As eager as some residents may be to burn off accumulated brush piles and similar debris, Pct. 3 Commissioner John Klaus urged everyone to “use some common sense” when burning. If humidity is low and winds are brisk, don’t light off the pile, he advised.