Burn Ban in Place for Parker County

Parker County Commissioners Court put an end to outdoor burning for the next 30 days at least with a unanimous vote to put a burn ban in effect, at the Monday, June 23 regular meeting.

Parker County Judge Mark Riley said residents should be very cautious as the threat of fire is increasing daily.

“While we have received a little rain it was not enough to ease the dangerous fire conditions and these conditions are worsening daily,” Riley said.

The ban is necessary according to Parker County Fire Marshall Shawn Scott.

“As many people understand we are unusually dry right now as we missed out on some of our Spring rainfall,” Scott said. “This has been exacerbated by the steady winds.  The burn ban is a preventive measure to help reduce the loss of property to wildfires.  I encourage every one to be very cautious with fireworks and anything that can create a fire situation outdoors.”

The burn ban is as follows:

PROHIBITION OF OUTDOOR BURNING

WHEREAS, in accordance with Section 352.081 of the Local Government Code, the Commissioners’ Court of Parker County, Texas, may, by order, prohibit or restrict outdoor burning in general and/or outdoor burning of a particular substance including welding in all or part of the unincorporated area of Parker County, Texas, provided:

1.                  Drought conditions have been determined to exist as provided by subsection (b) of 240.906; or

2.                  The Parker County Commissioners’ Court makes a finding that circumstances present in all or part of the unincorporated area of the Parker County, Texas; create a public safety hazard that would be exacerbated by outdoor burning.

WHEREAS, in accordance with Section 352.081 of the Local Government Code, the Commissioners’ Court of Parker County, Texas, hereby makes a finding that circumstances are present in all or part of the unincorporated area of Parker County, Texas, that presently create a public safety hazard that would be exacerbated by outdoor burning.

WHEREAS, the Commissioners’ Court of Parker County, Texas, by majority vote, have authorized the Parker County Judge to sign this order for the benefit of the citizens of Parker County, Texas,

BE IT THEREFORE ORDERED that the following emergency regulations be hereby established for all unincorporated areas of Parker County, Texas, for thirty (30) days ending at 12:00 midnight on July 24, 2008.

ACTIONS CONSTITUTING A VIOLATION OF THIS ORDER:

THE USE OF COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS IN AN OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENT BY ANY PERSON IS PROHIBITED.

COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE DISCARDING OF CIGARETTES OR OTHER FLAMMABLE MATERIALS, MATERIALS USED IN ACTIVITIES SUCH AS WELDING AND ANY OTHER ACTIVITY THAT COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

WHERE WELDING MUST BE PERFORMED IN THE FIELD, THE FOLLOWING MITIGATING EFFORTS WILL BE IN FORCE UNTIL THE FIRE EMERGENCY DECLARATION HAS EXPIRED:

·         All areas where welding, cutting or grinding operations are being performed will be free of vegetation for at least twenty five feet in all directions;

·         Surface around welding area will be wetted down;

·         Wind speeds must be no more than 20 miles per hour while performing welding, cutting or grinding operations outside of barriers or enclosures;

·         A dedicated fire watch person will attend each welder, cutter, grinder and any activity that causes a spark;

·         A minimum of one (1) water pressure fire extinguisher per fire watch person is required;

·         Each site will have cellular telephone communications for emergency response;

·         All welding, cutting and grinding operations may be performed in a total welding enclosure, or “welding box”, that is sufficiently high to control sparks and includes a fire retardant cover over the top. Winds speeds must not exceed 30 miles per hour while utilizing an enclosure;

                              i.   Where welding (above ground and sub-surface) is required in 

                                    an area where there is a potential for a hazardous                                                                         atmosphere,

                                    barriers will be substituted for total enclosures

                                     (e.g. “wind walls”) to prevent sparks from coming in contact

                                        with any combustible material;

                              ii.   The barriers will be installed to allow ventilation of the work                                              area and ingress and egress to the work area for personnel                                                            safety;

                              iii.   Sub-surface, or “bell hole”, welding and grinding operations                                             within approved excavations are allowed if all other mitigation

                                     efforts are included;

·         If an emergency exists where welding has to be performed, the Fire Marshal may                   issue a temporary exception to the order.

ACTIONS NOT CONSTITUTING A VIOLATION OF THIS ORDER:

1.                  This action does not apply to the use of bar-b-que type equipment used strictly for cooking use only.

2.                  This order does not apply to outdoor burning activities related to public health and safety that are authorized by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for:

a)                  Firefighter Training;

b)                  Public Utility: Natural Gas Pipeline, or Mining operations; or

c)                  Harvesting of agricultural crops.

ENFORCEMENT

A.                Upon notification of suspected outdoor burning, the fire department assigned to the location of the fire shall respond to the scene and take immediate measures to contain and/or extinguish the fire.

B.                 As soon as possible, a duly-commissioned peace officer shall be sent to investigate the nature of the fire.

C.                 Violations of this Order may be prosecuted in accordance with the statues and procedures governing misdemeanors.

D.                A violation of this Order is a Class “C” misdemeanor by authority of the Texas Local Government Code, §352.081.

BE IT ALSO ORDERED that this order may be enforced by any duly commissioned peace officer and that the venue for prosecution of this Order will be Justice of the Peace Court, Parker County, Texas.

SIGNED this 23^rd   day of June, 2008.

-End-