Henderson County included in disaster declaration

Friday, Gov. Greg Abbott issued a Wildfire Disaster Declaration that covers more than half the state's counties. Henderson County is included.

Henderson County's current KBDI has increased to an average of 739.

The Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) is maintained by Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Texas A&M Forest Service and is used to determine fire potential. The scale goes up to 800, and a burn ban is suggested when the KBDI is 575

A KBDI that high means "(e)xpect intense, deep burning fires, with significant spotting problems. Live fuels will burn actively at these levels and expect fires to be difficult to contain and control," according to the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.

Henderson County is currently under a burn ban. Ignoring the burn ban is a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $500.