Travis County Commissioners Court
February 28, 2006
Item 2
2. Consider and take appropriate action regarding the prohibition of outdoor burning in the unincorporated areas of Travis County and related matters.
>> pete baldwin, emergency management coordinator. We recommend that we keep the existing or not the existing, but sign a new outdoor burning ban order. Although we had some beneficial rains last week, primarily what it did was serve to -- to help us with our larger fuels. What we call our 100 hour and thousand hour fuels. We are starting to see them gain a little more moisture, those are the ones that contribute to the intensity of the fire. However, as we met with the fire chiefs yesterday, all of the chiefs represented, it was a discussion of whether or not we had an opportunity to lift it for a week or two, but some of the chiefs said this past rain did not benefit them. They did not get the amount that some of the others were reporting. As we have discussed in the past, all of our chiefs have said we either want one outdoor burning ban or none. We don't want the p.r. Issue of trying to split the county. It's kind of difficult. Based upon their recommendation, also based upon the fact that caldwell county just had a huge fire yesterday after lifting their burn ban, my recommendation to the court would be that we sign a new order of which the judge has.
>> for those wondering why washington lifted its -- Williamson county lifted its ban, we don't lift ours, can we tell them that the tests we conduct all indicated that the burn ban ought to stay in place.
>> we are still above that 500 benchmark on the drought index, which is what we always key off of. Also Williamson county north counties to us got more rain than we did. People reporting an inch of rain or better up there. And we just have not had that. Now, we are in better shape than we were three weeks ago. But the chiefs specifically asked for a new order in place and keep it on the agendas like we have and if we do -- if any rain materializes this weekend, we are going to poll everybody Monday morning on the chiefs, be back here on Tuesday.
>> approve a new order, keep this on the agenda just in case we need it next week.
>> yes, sir.
>> move approval of the recommendation, discussion? All in favor? That passes by unanimous vote.
>> thank you.
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Last Modified:
Wednesday, February 8, 2006 10:44 AM