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(Photo/Alex Kielar) Breckenridge Fire Chief Malcolm Bufkin speaks to the Stephens County Commissioners Court earlier this month when the county-wide burn ban was reignited. County Judge Michael Roach lifted the ban Friday, Nov. 21.
The Stephens County-wide burn ban has been lifted following less than two weeks after it had been put back on.
After the Stephens County Commissioners Court reignited the burn ban Monday, Nov. 10, County Judge Michael Roach lifted it Friday, Nov. 21 as the previously instated burn ban granted him the authority to lift the ban when conditions safely allowed.
In a public statement, Roach described the recent rainfall as a factor to the conditions no longer meeting the threshold for wildfire risk.
On the Keetch-Bryam Drought Index (KBDI), Stephens County was averaging towards the middle of the 0-800 scale, at 465 the day the burn ban was lifted. While it did increase a few marks the days after, it was well below the emergency threshold of 570.
Though the ban was lifted, Roach asked residents outside of the Breckenridge city limits to take the following precautions:
- Call your local fire department before burning any brush piles or conducting outdoor burns.
- Burn only natural vegetation.
- Have water and firefighting tools on-site.
- Never leave a burn unattended.
- Be mindful of shifting winds and dry grass nearby.
Roach added that if conditions were to dry out again, the court could reinstate the ban, and they will continue to monitor forecasts and fuel conditions.
