“The fire marshal has already said he'd like to see it (the burn ban) stay in place,” said County Judge Mark Barr, “and our volunteer fire chief, Tommy Sullivan, said he'd also like to see it stay in place until we get some beneficial rain. And I'd really like to express that point. We're not out of danger yet. As dry as it is out there, we're far from it.”

Barr said the ban would be strictly enforced, costing violators up to $500 in the process.

“It is hereby ordered by the Commissioners Court of Howard County that all outdoor burning is prohibited in the unincorporated areas of the county for 90 days from the date of this article, unless the restrictions are terminated earlier based on the determinations made by the Texas Forest Service or this court” said Barr. “These are the exceptions. Firefighting training, public utility or natural gas pipeline and mining operations, the planting or harvesting of agricultural crops and burns that are conducted by a burn manager certified by the Natural Resources Court. A violation of this order is a Class C misdemeanor, and enforceable by a fine not to exceed $500.”

Kilgore amended the motion to accept the burn ban, giving Barr the authority to lift the ban if the conditions changed within the 90-day period.

And while the number of recent wildfires — including a pair of fires west of Big Spring in early May — has ebbed slightly

“Up until we got some rain a in April, we were responding to one, sometimes two or three fires a day,” said Sullivan. “And while that inch of rain helped, we haven't received any more significant rain since then, so we're looking at the same sort of situation we were in last month. Things have greened up a little, but it's not enough, and if we don't get some more rain soon, that new vegetation is just going to die out and add to the fuel load. It doesn't look very promising at all.”

And while no one can predict a wildfire, Sullivan said local residents can take measures to help firefighters if their home becomes endangered.

“I really can't stress this enough, but it's vital our citizens be very careful right now,” said Sullivan. “Fire prevention is more of a proactive thing than a reactive thing, because once a fire starts it’s too late. One of the most important measures people can take right now is to make sure they have a 75 feet to 100 feet fire break around their home. Get rid of brush and other items that could burn. That can really help firefighters if their home becomes threatened.

Sullivan said signs located on county firehouses that normally track the risk-level of wildfires will now be marked with a different sort of sign.

“The signs show there is a burn ban in effect right now,” said Sullivan. “We’re hoping that will help remind the citizens and impress upon them the importance of the ban. This is serious stuff.”

In the meantime, Sullivan said local residents need to remain vigilant of fire dangers throughout Howard County and the surrounding areas.

“I really hope people aren’t getting a false sense of security,” said Sullivan. “The danger is still very much there, and if people get careless we’re going to be in big trouble.”

Contact Staff Writer Thomas Jenkins at 263-7331 ext. 232 or by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it