Denton County's mandatory burn ban remains in effect after 26 days, even as the first thunderstorms in weeks rolled across the region Sunday, Sept. 20.
County Judge Andy Eads signed a Local Disaster Declaration for Threat of Wildland Fires on Aug. 25, banning all outdoor burning and restricting hot work across unincorporated Denton County. The order has no scheduled end date. It lifts only when county leaders determine drought conditions have improved.
Violating the ban is a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500, according to the county's official notice.
What's banned
The declaration prohibits fire pits, debris burns and open-flame cooking devices. Welding and cutting-torch operations outdoors are restricted. Outdoor cooking is limited to propane or natural-gas grills that are fully enclosed. Wood and charcoal devices require full enclosure and at least five feet of clearance from vegetation or debris, according to Flower Mound Bee reporting.
Tarrant County is also under an active burn ban, meaning Flower Mound residents are covered on both sides of the county line.
Who it covers
The county declaration applies directly to unincorporated areas. Residents inside Flower Mound's town limits fall under the town's own fire code. But property owners in unincorporated pockets near Argyle, Bartonville or Trophy Club's outskirts must comply with the county order.
The Town of Flower Mound issued its own burn ban notice on Aug. 25, prohibiting outdoor burning and use of combustible materials within town limits.
Rain arrives, but ban stays
The National Weather Service Fort Worth office said on Sept. 18 that above-normal temperatures and an elevated fire threat would persist through at least Sunday, with low chances for rain returning late Sunday into early the following week.
By Sunday afternoon, the NWS recorded thunderstorm conditions at DFW International Airport. That marked the area's first thunderstorm activity after a dry stretch that reached 54 consecutive days without measurable rain as of Sept. 7, the sixth-longest such streak on record.
One storm does not end a drought.
The ban can be terminated by county commissioners or by Judge Eads, according to the Cross Timbers Gazette. No review date has been announced.
When the declaration was issued, Denton County Chief Fire Marshal Brad Sebastian urged residents in the county's Aug. 25 announcement to clear combustible debris and vegetation from around their homes and keep water hoses ready in case a small fire starts.
How to stay informed
Residents can check the declaration's status or contact the Denton County Office of Emergency Management at 940-349-2840 or [email protected]. The county's Everbridge alert system is also available for emergency notifications.
