FAQs • McLennan County, TX • CivicEngage

What activity is prohibited when the County is under a Burn Ban Order?: 1. All outdoor fires, including fires contained in a container or semi-enclosure, such as a barrel or hopper. (It does not include grills, barbecues, or smokers which are used to cook food and are fully covered and attended). Open grills, burn barrels, barbecues or smokers are prohibited; AND
2. The use of welders or cutting torches is prohibited unless the user has on hand adequate fire
suppression equipment & personnel, specifically, this must include, as a minimum:
* a 2A-20BC fire extinguisher, kept within 30 feet of any outdoor welding activity; AND
* an individual to serve as a "fire monitor" during all welding activities with the monitor
remaining on the scene for a minimum of 30 minutes after cessation of any outdoor welding
activity.

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County Judges

1. How do I schedule an appointment with the County Judge's Office?: Please contact our office at 254-757-5049 to set up an appointment or calendar / appointment information can be e-mailed to [email protected].

2. How do I submit an Open Records Request to the County Judge’s Office?: An Open Records Request must be submitted in writing. The request can be mailed to our address, e-mailed to Dustin Chapman (dustin.cha[email protected]) or delivered in person to the office.

3. How does the Commissioners Court determine if a Burn Ban needs to be ordered for McLennan County?: The Commissioners Court reviews local information relative to drought conditions including information provided by the National Weather Service, the Texas Forest Service’s Keetch-Byram Drought Index and various individuals who have knowledge of the current dry conditions in the unincorporated areas. Once the Court makes the finding that circumstances exist in the unincorporated areas of McLennan County that create a public safety hazard that would be exacerbated by outdoor burning and that McLennan County meets the drought criteria necessary to prohibit outdoor burning in all unincorporated areas of McLennan County, as per the provision of the Local Government Code 352.081

4. What is the difference between an Order Prohibiting the Outdoor Burning in the Unincorporated Areas of the County (Burn Ban) and the Red Flag Warning Burn Ban?: The Order Prohibiting the Outdoor Burning in the Unincorporated Areas of the County is issued by the Commissioners Court when drought conditions exist and continues until the earlier of (1) 90 days from date adopted; (2) the date Commissioners Court or County Judge, by official action, terminates the Order; or (3) the date the Texas Forest Service determines that drought conditions no longer exist in McLennan County. The Red Flag Warning Burn Ban is also issued by Commissioners Court but is only in effect with the National Weather Service issues a Red Flag Warning for McLennan County

5. Can an individual still use a barbecue if the County is under a Burn Ban?: Yes, the Burn Ban Order does not include grills, barbecues, or smokers which are used to cook food and are fully covered and attended.

6. What activity is prohibited when the County is under a Burn Ban Order?: 1. All outdoor fires, including fires contained in a container or semi-enclosure, such as a barrel or hopper. (It does not include grills, barbecues, or smokers which are used to cook food and are fully covered and attended). Open grills, burn barrels, barbecues or smokers are prohibited; AND
2. The use of welders or cutting torches is prohibited unless the user has on hand adequate fire
suppression equipment & personnel, specifically, this must include, as a minimum:
* a 2A-20BC fire extinguisher, kept within 30 feet of any outdoor welding activity; AND
* an individual to serve as a "fire monitor" during all welding activities with the monitor
remaining on the scene for a minimum of 30 minutes after cessation of any outdoor welding
activity.

7. How do I view information on bar reopenings?: Press Release Regarding Reopening of Bars