The Donley County Commissioners Court enacted a burn ban during their regular meeting Monday, May 9.
The court made the decision in consultation with Clarendon Fire Marshal Jeremy Powell, and Precinct 3 Commissioner Neil Koetting, who is the Hedley Fire Chief, also participated in the discussion.
State and local officials continue to warn the public about the fire danger associated with persistently dry conditions. Even with rain possible this week, high winds and warm weather can quickly make conditions ripe for grass and wildfires.
Under the commissioners’ order, no outdoor burning is allowed on a day of a forecasted Fire Weather Watch or a Red Flag Warning issued from the National Weather Service in Amarillo.
Anyone engaging in outdoor burning must contact the Donley County Sheriff’s office prior to ignition and give the dispatcher a burn location, a contact phone number, and approximate burn time. The person engaging in outdoor burning needs to be present on the site of the burn until the burn is completed.
Anyone engaging in any form of outdoor burning is asked to burn with extreme caution at all times.
Forecasters can issue the watch or warning for all or selected portions within a fire weather zone. The Red Flag event is verified when the weather and fuel conditions listed below are met simultaneously for any three hours or more during the period.
The following weather and fuel conditions must be forecast to occur or already occurring before issuing a Fire Weather Watch and/or Red Flag Warning: Minimum relative humidities equal to or less than 15 percent; 20 foot winds of 20 mph or higher and/or gusts to 35 mph or higher; and an NFDRS adjective fire danger rating of “high” or higher.
For information, log onto https://www.weather.gov/ama/.
The burn ban will stay in effect for the next 90 days. Violation of a burn ban can result in a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500.
Commissioners also considered an order prohibiting fireworks in the county but did not approve that order.
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