In response to increasing wildfire risk and dry conditions, Liberty County Judge Jay Knight and Fire Marshal Nathan Green, with approval of the Liberty County Commissioners Court, enacted a burn ban for all unincorporated areas of the county on Tuesday, March 25.
The burn ban, issued under the authority of Local Government Code Section 352.081, prohibits most forms of outdoor burning. Authorities cited conditions that pose a public safety hazard and create an imminent threat of wildfire destruction throughout the county.
Under the order, it is a Class C misdemeanor—punishable by a fine of up to $500—for any person to engage in or order the burning of combustible materials outside of a containment enclosure. This includes open burning of brush, trash, or debris in areas not properly controlled to prevent the escape of flames or embers.
The order also reinforces that it is illegal to burn household refuse outdoors in neighborhoods or on properties smaller than five acres, per Local Government Code Section 352.082.
Certain exceptions are allowed under the order, including:
- Firefighter training activities authorized by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ);
- Operations related to public utilities, natural gas pipelines, or mining;
- Planting or harvesting of agricultural crops;
- Prescribed burns conducted by certified and insured managers under Section 153.048 of the Natural Resources Code.
The ban will remain in effect until conditions improve and officials determine that the risk of wildfire has subsided. Enforcement will be carried out by any duly commissioned peace officer, with citations to be processed through the justice of the peace in the precinct where the violation occurs.