Commissioners remove burn-barrel exemption in updated burn ban

Coryell County commissioners approved an updated burn ban that removes an exemption permitting burning in burn barrels, a change staff said had been a frequent source of calls to fire departments.

"The only changes from this burn ban and the last burn ban that expired... is the removal of the burning in a burn barrel on the screen that have been taken off of the burn ban as an exemption or exception that will not be allowed under this burn ban," a staff member said. Commissioners said multiple fire departments had requested removing the burn-barrel allowance. The motion to adopt the updated burn ban passed by voice vote.

Staff noted the ban can be revisited if conditions change or if a longer-term need arises to restore specific exemptions.