08/13/2026
BURN BAN - Bell County Judge David Blackburn has declared a disaster in accordance with the Texas Disaster Act of 1975 and issued an order prohibiting outdoor burning in the county's unincorporated areas, finding that circumstances create a public safety hazard that would be exacerbated by outdoor burning.
Judge Blackburn has issued the following emergency regulations.
(1) Actions Prohibited:
Except as described hereinafter, a person violates this order if he ignites or causes ignition of any combustible or vegetative material outside of an enclosure which serves to contain all flames and/or sparks, or orders such burning or ignition by others.
(2) Enforcement:
(a) Under notification of suspected outdoor burning, the fire department assigned to the location of the fire shall respond to the scene and take immediate measures to contain and to extinguish the fire.
(b) If requested by a fire official, a duly commissioned peace officer, when available, shall be sent to the scene to investigate the nature of the fire.
(c) In accordance with Section 352.081 of the Local Government Code, a person who knowingly or intentionally violates this order commits a Class C Misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to $500.
(d) If the responding peace officer finds that the person responsible for the fire is in violation of (1) above, a citation shall be issued for: Violation of Burn Ban Order.
This order shall not apply to the outdoor burning of vegetative material caused by welding or by other causes relating to the act of welding, if such burning is not malicious or intentional.
For additional information, please contact your local Fire Department.
