Smokey the Bear is approaching his 80th birthday, and his message is as important now as it's ever been: Only you can prevent wildfires! To help Texans stay safe, local authorities can declare burn bans.
According to Texas A&M Forest Service, wildfires can happen anywhere in Texas, and more than three-quarters of wildfires happen near communities. Even more concerning, 90% of wildfires are started by human activities! Welding, campfires, a discarded lit cigarette, a malfunctioning car, or burning trash can easily start a wildfire when conditions are right.
While local fire departments and state firefighters are prepared to battle wildfires, preventing a wildfire is our best defense against the ravages such a fire can bring. To promote safe behaviors, a Texas county judge or commissioners court can put a burn ban in place when conditions that increase fire danger exist, to restrict outdoor burning for public safety. These agencies rely on state and local experts to determine if the risk of wildfire is high enough to declare a ban. Violating a local burn ban can result in hefty fines.
