TYLER, Texas — With the lack of rain East Texas has seen recently, some counties have issued burn bans due to the dry conditions.
When areas experience extended periods of hot, dry, windy weather, counties implement bans on outdoor burning as a wildfire prevention tool.
"In Texas, local governments are empowered to take action on the behalf of those they serve, the Texas A&M Forest Service says. "When drought conditions exist, a burn ban can be put in place by a county judge or county commissioners court prohibiting or restricting outdoor burning for public safety."
The length of the ban prohibiting outdoor burning due to current weather conditions depends on each county. The commissioners courts of each county will have to determine if their local ban should be extended.
Counties and cities with burn bans in effect are as follows:
- Angelina County (enacted Oct. 15, 2024)
- Cass County (enacted Oct. 15, 2024)
- Cherokee County (enacted Oct. 16, 2024)
- City of White Oak (enacted Oct. 15, 2024)
- Houston County (enacted Oct. 4, 2024)
- Rusk County (enacted Oct. 15, 2024)
- Smith County (enacted Oct. 8, 2024)
- Panola County (enacted Oct. 10, 2024)
- Trinity County (enacted Oct. 10, 2024)
- Wood County (enacted Oct. 29, 2024)
Counties and cities that have rescinded their burn bans are as follows:
- Franklin County (rescinded Oct. 31, 2024)
- Marion County (rescinded Oct. 31, 2024)
- Upshur County (rescinded Oct. 31, 2024)
- Harrison County (rescinded Nov. 1, 2024)
- Anderson County (rescinded Nov. 4, 2024)
- Gregg County (rescinded Nov. 4, 2024)
- Smith County (rescinded Nov. 5, 2024)
- Henderson County (rescinded Nov. 5, 2024)
- Van Zandt County (rescinded Nov. 5, 2024)
- Polk County (rescinded Nov. 5, 2024)
CBS19 will update this list as more counties make their decisions.