Buh-bye, burn ban

The recent deluge of rainy weather has increased humidity and moisture in the region to levels that significantly lower the risk of wildfire. So yesterday, Travis County Fire Marshal Tony Callaway decided to lift the burn ban for the unincorporated areas of Travis County, saying “conditions have improved enough to lift the burn ban,” but, “Even though the burn ban has been lifted, I urge the public to use extreme caution and obey all laws when burning outdoors.” According to the news release from the fire marshal, outdoor burning “must be conducted under state regulations found in Texas Administrative Code Section 30 TAC 111.219 or summarized on the Travis County Fire Marshal’s website.” Residents should contact their local fire department before conducting any outdoor burning, and of course, they should always have water nearby. “If residents require assistance in determining which fire department they will need to notify, they can contact the Travis County Fire Marshal’s Office at (512) 854-4621.”