Henderson County Lifts Burn Ban

On Tuesday, Henderson County Judge Wade McKinney lifted the county’s burn ban, which had been in effect since Aug. 20. The move comes following improved drought conditions and a decrease in fire potential.

The Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI), a critical measure for determining wildfire risk, stood at 385 in Henderson County on Tuesday. During the ban, the county’s KBDI reached as high as 743. The KBDI, maintained by Texas A&M AgriLife Research and the Texas A&M Forest Service, is a scale that measures soil dryness up to 800. A burn ban is typically recommended when the KBDI exceeds 575.

The decision reflects improving conditions as recent rainfalls have reduced the likelihood of wildfire outbreaks. Judge McKinney’s order rescinding the ban allows for outdoor burning to resume in unincorporated areas of Henderson County.

Residents are urged to exercise caution with outdoor fires despite the lifted restrictions, as drought conditions remain a concern in parts of East Texas.