Lifted burn ban allows area residents to burn brush; caution still advised
Breckenridge Fire Chief Calvin Cheney said that although the fire ban has been lifted and local residents can continue to burn brush outside the city limits, everyone needs to use caution when burning because the grass in the area is still dry.
Stephens County Judge Michael Roach lifted the burn ban on Jan. 11, and the Stephens County Commissioners voted to keep the burn ban off at their regular meeting on Jan. 13. However, the ban was lifted with the stipulation that anyone who plans to burn brush must call the non-emergency number for the Breckenridge Fire Department (254-559-6242) to notify them of the time and place of the planned burn, so firefighters don’t rush to a reported fire only to discover that somebody was just burning brush.
Additionally, no fire may be started if the wind speed is 15 miles per hour or higher. Thursday’s wind speeds have ranged from 3 to 10 mph with occasional gusts up to 17 mph. Current weather conditions can be found on the National Weather Service’s website.
Brush is the only thing that can be burned; it is not legal to burn trash or other material besides brush. Also, burning is not allowed within the city limits of Breckenridge.
Chaney advised anyone planning to burn brush to be sure and clear away any dead grass from the burning area so that it doesn’t catch on fire.
“We just want people to be safe,” he said.
On Thursday afternoon, smoke from a prescribed burn could be seen south of Breckenridge. Chaney said the prescribed burn will probably burn about 300 acres. He said they’re burning it today because the winds are from the north and the smoke would blow away from town.
Story by Tony Pilkington and Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan
Cutline, top photo: A field burns south of Breckenridge as part of a prescribed burn that is expected to cover about 300 acres on Thursday, Jan. 23. The controlled fire was taking place in the area of FM 3418 and County Road 183, just south of FM 2231. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)