Travis County to lift burn ban for unincorporated areas of county

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas - The burn ban put in place last week for the unincorporated areas of Travis County is set to be lifted Wednesday.

Travis County Fire Marshal Tony Callaway has notified Commissioners Court that the latest rainfall has led to a significant improvement in conditions. The area is also forecasted to receive additional rainfall over the next several days coupled with a reduction in temperature, says the Fire Marshal's office.

Because of this, the Fire Marshal intends to lift the burn ban on Wednesday, Jan. 15. The office will re-evaluate conditions before Commissioners Court next week.

RELATED: Travis County Commissioners Court issues burn ban for unincorporated areas through February
  
“While I am encouraged by the improved conditions, I urge residents to continue to be cautious with any outdoor burning,” said Callaway. “Keep a means of extinguishing the fire nearby at all times, and never leave a fire unattended. Call 9-1-1 immediately if a fire gets out of control.”

The ban was put in place on Jan. 7 and originally set to expire on Feb. 5.

The Fire Marshal’s Office urges residents to contact their local fire department before conducting outdoor burning in the unincorporated areas of Travis County. If residents require assistance in determining which fire department, they can contact the Fire Marshal's office at 512-854-4621.

Additionally, outdoor burning must be conducted under state regulations which can be found summarized on the Travis County Fire Marshal’s website.