TYLER, Texas — Smith County Fire Marshal Chad Hogue urged residents to use extreme caution when burning on windy days Tuesday, as a burn ban may be imminent.
Although the county has recently seen rain, it has not been enough to hinder local grassfires, which have seen a "dramatic increase in the last couple of weeks," according to Hogue. There have been 30 grassfires in the county since Aug. 27, with nine happening on Sept. 7 alone.
Smith County currently sits at a 659 out of 800 rating from the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI), a range used to determine forest fire potential.
If rain continues to avoid the area, a burn ban may be necessary, Hogue said.
The development of Tropical Storm Francine has the possibility of bringing precipitation to the area, but should not be relied upon to end the threat of fires, according to Hogue. If a ban is to be implemented, it likely will come next week.