Polk County court lifts countywide burn ban after brief vote

At a special session March 20 in Livingston, the Polk County Commissioners Court voted to lift the countywide burn ban after reviewing drought conditions and consulting with the Forestry Service. The presiding officer said a Forestry Service contact, 'Ricky, thinks that we're in a good position right now to lift the burn ban.'

The court said the decision was based on current drought-index data and the Forestry Service recommendation, but officials urged residents to remain cautious. One commissioner said, 'even if we're not in a burn band, if the wind is blowing 25 miles an hour, maybe that's not the time to burn.' Another official noted on social media a recommended range for burning of '6 to 23 m an hour' as posted to followers; the transcript does not specify the units for that range.

A motion to lift the burn ban was made and seconded; Commissioner Pervvis was recorded as the second. The court voted by voice; the presiding officer called for those in favor to say 'I,' received no opposition and declared the motion carried. Officials said they could reimpose an emergency seven-day burn ban if conditions worsened and that the court could subsequently extend restrictions for 30 days.

Court staff and officials encouraged people to tag Polk County emergency management on social-media notices so public-safety messages are automatically shared. The special session adjourned at 10:03 a.m.

The action restores residents' ability to conduct controlled burns under local guidance but leaves authority to local emergency officials to reinstate restrictions on short notice if fire risk rises.