(WBAP/KLIF) — After Wednesday’s large grass fire caused by a spark from a company cutting rebar, Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare has made a move to protect life and property. Fire Marshall Randy Renois says the large amount of manpower and resources dispatched on the fire made the move necessary.
The fire danger in North Texas has become so critical that Tarrant County issued a disaster declaration, Friday, which prohibits outdoor burning, a Class C Misdemeanor with a fine up to $500. Renois says the Texas A&M Forest Service Drought Index indicates drought conditions and fuel volatility. On June 17th, the index for the county was 289, however in July is was over 600 on a scale that has a maximum of 800. He says the extreme Texas heat is sucking the moisture out of just about everything, making many unincorporated areas a tinder box waiting to erupt with the smallest spark.
The disaster declaration prohibits any outdoor burning, which is punishable by up to a $500 fine. Outdoor burning is banned for the next week, however Renois expects another ban to be reissued after the current one expires and a 90-day ban can be issued at the next Commissioner’s Court Meeting.
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