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BASTROP — Bastrop County commissioners extended the countywide burn ban through Oct. 13 as drought conditions continue to keep wildfire concerns high.
County leaders unanimously approved the extension Sept. 28 following a recommendation from Office of Emergency Management Coordinator James Altgelt and local fire chiefs. The ban was first enacted Aug. 24 and had been scheduled to expire at midnight Sept. 28. The extension comes as the county approaches six weeks under the burn ban.
The county’s average Keetch-Byram Drought Index stood at 712 prior to the vote, Altgelt told commissioners. The index measures soil moisture deficiency on a scale of 0 to 800, with higher numbers representing drier conditions.
According to Altgelt, significant rainfall could provide some relief before another extension is considered. As of Oct. 5, the average KBDI sits at 566.
“Whether we receive more, less or at the forecast amount remains to be seen,” Altgelt told commissioners. “What that impact has will also remain to be seen depending on where in the county the rain is received and how it’s distributed.”
If rainfall reduces the wildfire threat, County Judge Gregory Klaus has the authority to end the burn ban before its scheduled expiration, according to officials. Otherwise, commissioners could allow the order to expire Oct. 13. Altgelt said officials will monitor the rainfall and its potential impact.
The burn ban prohibits most outdoor burning of combustible or vegetative materials in unincorporated areas of Bastrop County. Exceptions include certain welding, cutting and grinding operations, burns authorized by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, food preparation, air curtain incinerators and outdoor special effects by commercial film studios conducted with local fire department oversight.
Violations are a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500.
