Burn Ban Now in Effect Across Denton County's Unincorporated Land

A Denton County burn ban is in force as of Tuesday morning, covering the county's unincorporated areas. Around Aubrey, that is a considerable amount of the surrounding ground.

Commissioners approved the order at the request of County Fire Marshal Brad Sebastian, who told them the county had gone more than 30 days without measurable rain after a hot July and early August. It holds until the state of disaster is terminated by the Commissioners Court or County Judge Andy Eads.

What is prohibited

Knowingly burning combustible material outdoors, or allowing it on your property, is barred. Emergency Services Districts No. 1 and No. 2 define combustible material to include wood, lumber, leaves, brush and material used for welding. Outdoor cooking is barred unless the device runs on propane or natural gas and is fully enclosed and kept closed while in use.

A violation carries a fine of up to $500. Reckless burning or fireworks that cause property damage can bring further consequences under state law.

The jurisdiction line matters more here than in a larger city. Texas law lets a commissioners court restrict outdoor burning in the unincorporated part of a county, not inside a city. So the order applies to county land rather than to property inside Aubrey itself, where town rules govern. For anyone on acreage past the city limit, this is the rule that applies.

The conditions

A grass fire near Ponder burned about 125 acres on Sunday evening, and Sebastian warned that grass fires are likely to become more frequent if the weather holds.

The Denton County Sheriff's Office put the Ross Fire in Palo Pinto County at roughly 50,000 acres and 5 percent containment. Departments from Krum, Lewisville, Little Elm, Justin, Fort Worth and Roanoke have been committed to fires around the state under mutual aid.

The Texas A&M Forest Service has most of the region under very high to extreme fire danger.