Travis County Commissioners Court
July 8, 2008
Item 3
3. Consider and take appropriate action on an order prohibiting outdoor burning in the unincorporated areas of Travis County.
>> good morning, pete baldwin, Travis County emergency management coordinator, along with brad beecham, Travis County fire marshal. The reason we're back here today, even though we enjoyed rain yesterday, we received spotty showers, we are still not in the area to recommend lifting a burn ban. The current burn ban will expire tomorrow. So it would be -- we're here today to recommend that we go ahead and approve the new burn ban, which you have an order which would be in effect for approximately 30 days and we will review it every week. We are hopeful that we get additional rains, but at this point in time we are not to the point where it is based upon our indexes that we are comfortable in removing that ban.
>> about how much rain did we get yesterday and where did we get it?
>> it varied, sir. Out southwest --
>> we got some --
>> out southwest they got anywhere up to a third of an inch, some parts down in southern Travis County got over a half inch. But there were a lot of places up north where it didn't make it. So it was widely scattered. It was not a -- not a wide-spread overall. But we are looking at another good shot at it again today. So hopefully everybody will get some.
>> we are going to have it back on next week in case we need it?
>> yes, sir.
>> move approval of staff's recommendation to -- to renew the burn ban up to 30 days, which the law allows, but to review it weekly.
>> second.
>> discussion? Mr. Fire marshal, any --
>> nothing to add, judge.
>> all in favor? That passes by unanimous vote.
>> judge, I would like to say very quickly regarding the fourth of July holiday, it was a lot quieter than we saw last new year's, which was sort of like a war zone out around everywhere. But we actually ran the totals for five calls for the whole weekend and it was county ran 40 total calls for the entire weekend, city of Austin ran 44. So -- so I mean overall it's -- we had a very quiet weekend. We appreciate the public being aware and we appreciate their concern for the safety.
>> thank you so much.
>> did we ever send that letter of thanks to mr. Davis and his group?
>> yes, sir, we did.
>> okay, thank you.
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Last Modified:
Tuesday, July 8, 2008 1:51 PM