August 12, 2015 - The Shelby County Commissioners recently voted to put the county under a burn ban for the next 90 days, or until further notice. Center Fire Chief Keith Byndom has indicated the city of Center is also under a burn ban and advised citizens to adhere to the rules of the ban, which reads as follows:
Order prohibiting outdoor burning, Whereas the Commissioners Court find the circumstances present in all or part of the unincorporated area of Shelby County create a public safety hazard that would be exacerbated by outdoor burning;
It is hereby ordered by the Commissioners Court of Shelby County that all outdoor burning is restricted in any part of Shelby County, Texas for 90 days from the date of adoption of this order, unless the restrictions are terminated earlier based on a determination made by the Texas Forest Service or this court. This order is adopted pursuant to Local Government Code Sect. 352.081, and other applicable statutes.
This order does not prohibit outdoor burning activities related to public health and safety that are authorized by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for: (1) firefighter training; (2) public utility, natural gas pipeline or mining operations; (3) planting or harvesting or agricultural crops; or (4) burns that are conducted by a prescribed burn manager certified under section 153.048, Natural Resources Code, and meet the standards of section 153.047, Natural Resource Code.
In accordance with Local Government Code Sect. 352.081(h), a violation of this order is a Class C Misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not to exceed $500.
The County Judge is hereby designated as the officer authorized to determine whether circumstances no longer exist to prohibit outdoor burning, and the County Judge may rescind this order at such time.
Judge Harbison informed Shelby County Today, for a city to enforce burn ban violations within their city limits, they must adopt a burn ban order as well.
