Travis County Commissioners Court
Tuesday, February 8, 2011,
Item 1
Item number 1 is consider and take appropriate action on an order considering outdoor burning in the unincorporated areas of Travis County.
>> good morning, judge.
our burn ban was allowed to expire this past Friday night.
the snow melted Friday and Saturday and the fire calls started.
during the day Saturday, the fire department responded to one particular fire which burned approximately 20 acres.
12 homes that were in danger.
it continued on Saturday and Sunday.
basically there were 18 calls in unincorporated areas of Travis County.
the fine fools are still standing.
they are still dry.
one-hour fuels.
if it rains, sleets, snows, the minute that melts and goes away the winds come and an hour later that fuel is ready to burn.
these standing fine fuels still constitute a danger of fire spreading and destroying property.
so my recommendation is at this time to ask the court to consider a new burn ban for Travis County.
>> when I hear 18 calls, I think 18 fires?
>> yes, sir.
one of those calls involved five different fire departments just to control the fire.
>> was starflight involved in one of those?
>> starflight was involved in one fire in unincorporated areas, but starflight also assisted -- I didn't include in there, more than 50 calls for fires inside the city of Austin and starflight assisted in one of those.
any other questions or comments?
when we lifted the burn ban for -- I guess the weekend and Monday, we notified those that had inquired whose addresses -- I guess whose contact information we had.
>> yes, sir.
I called the numbers that I had which sent that notices out posted on our website last Tuesday, and then I came in last Friday and sent that information out again.
and I know I spoke to a number of people involving agriculture and they were particularly interested in that.
so in hopes they were able to get their things taken care of.
>> I move that we follow staff's recommendation and approve an order prohibiting outdoor burning in the unincorporated areas of Travis County and this order will be in place 30 days.
>> second.
>> that's correct, judge.
the proposed order would expire March 9, 2011.
>> second.
>> seconded by Commissioner Davis.
any discussion on the motion?
all in favor?
that passes by unanimous vote.
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Last Modified:
Tuesday, February, 2011 2:19 PM
