Fires can spread quickly in these dry conditions and Wichita Falls will be joining several other Texas counties with a burn ban this week.

Wichita County Joins 116 Texas Counties Enacting Burn Bans

Every week the Texas A&M Forrest Service shares which Texas counties are currently under a burn ban. Starting at 12:01 AM on August 22, 2024 us here in Wichita County will be joining these other counties listed in red in the map above. With temperatures projected to exceed over 100 degrees and not good rain chances. The county has enacted the burn ban to go into effect the next 90 days. It can be terminated early by the Commisoners Court, so we will wait and see if rain comes into our forecast anytime soon.

Burn Ban Rules for Texas

• A burn ban means no outdoor burning is allowed, except in an enclosure that contains all flames and/or sparks.
• Non-commercial cooking, such as backyard cookouts and barbeques, are still allowed.
• Any outdoor welding and/or other “hot work” must be performed in accordance with fire code requirements.

Tips To Prevent Wildfires from Spreading

• DO NOT discharge fireworks and/or sparklers.
• NO open fires are allowed.
• If cooking in a barbeque pit, have a fire extinguisher or water hose nearby.
• Only discard smoking items into approved disposal canisters.
• Use caution if driving offroad; vehicle engine heat can ignite vegetation fires.
• Do not park your vehicle on the grass.
• LPG tanks should be far enough away from buildings for valves to be shut off in case of fire. Keep the area around the tank clear of flammable vegetation.
• Store gasoline in an approved safety can away from occupied buildings.
• All combustibles such as firewood, wooden picnic tables and stacked lumber should be kept away from structures.
• Clear roof surfaces and gutters regularly to avoid the build-up of flammable materials, such as leaves and other debris.
• Remove branches from trees to a height of 14 feet or more.
• Have fire tools handy, such as a fire extinguisher, water hose or hand tools.
• Assure you know all emergency exits from your home and building(s) you occupy.
• Info taken from Burn Ban Safety Tips.

Over the weekend, in Wichita Falls a large grass fire was spotted near Bacon Switch Road. Over 1,600 acres were burned in that fire, thankfully no ones homes were lost in that fire, but some outbuildings were caught in the blaze according to KFDX. So follow the tips above because we just saw how quickly these fires can spread in these dry conditions.