Travis County Commissioners Court

June 26, 2012 - Item 4
Agenda

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>> That item is number 4, consider and take appropriate action on an order concerning outdoor burning in an unincorporated area of Travis County.

>> Personal leave, Travis County fire marshal.
Travis County's parent

>> [inaudible] driving index is 491 with some areas of the county being as high as 573.
Under conditions like these with small fuels like grasses, leaves, small limbs, light quickly and while a number of outdoor fires hasn't increased alarmly, conditions are such that these people are more susceptible to fire.
Our short-term forecast has above normal temperatures, as a matter of fact the next ten days I believe are all over -- about 100 degrees, with the exception of one day.
And our past month, the month of June is below normal rainfall.
So -- and consulting with the local emergency service district fire chiefs, looking at historical conditions, my recommendation to you today is to to ban outdoor burning in unincorporated areas of Travis County.

>> Questions, comments?
Move that we follow the fire marshal's recommendation and impose an outdoor burn ban in unincorporated areas.
Discussion on the motion?
All in favor.
That passes by unanimous vote.

>> Judge, if I might add, the public often gets confused about when the court -- an actual burn ban, that they think that fireworks are therefore banned and that is not the case.
We will do a press release this afternoon putting that information out for the public so they'll understand this burn ban doesn't prohibit fireworks sales or use.

>> Thanks for the clarification.

>> But we would thank folks to voluntarily not use -- to celebrate the 4th of July with bands, light shows, snow cones, but if you can avoid the use of fireworks in this environment, in this circumstance, please do.

>> That would be the best idea, and also my plan is to ask for an agenda item on the 3rd just to inform you of conditions, if they change, what they have gone to and and more of an informational thing than a action item for next week.

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