Judge McKinney declares Local State of Disaster
Triple-digit temperatures and drought fuel wildfires
County Judge Wade McKinney signed a declaration Tuesday, Aug. 22, declaring a Local State of Disaster in Henderson County.
In a letter to Governor Abbott, Judge McKinney highlighted the "extensive loss to agriculture resources including at least 80 percent loss to hay production and the ever-increasing threat of fire danger" as reasons for the declaration.
The declaration will be in effect for seven days unless Commissioners Court extends it.
According to the Disaster Declaration, Henderson County fire departments responded to 24 wildfires in the past seven days and 67 in August.
Henderson County's current KBDI has increased to an average of 764, and all parts of the county are over the 700 level.
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; a burn ban is suggested when the KBDI is 575.
Henderson County is under a burn ban, but the disaster declaration increases the restrictions.
"Basically, if you have to strike a match or spark a lighter, don't do it," said Fire Marshal Shane Renberg.
The declaration specifically prohibits:
-- Outdoor burning of combustible materials in an outdoor environment by any person is prohibited. Combustible materials include, but are not limited to the use of all fireworks, burning of trash, brush and open campfires, and materials used outdoors in activities that could result in a fire.
-- The discarding of cigarettes/cigars or ashes is prohibited unless each Cigarette/cigar and ashes are deposited into an appropriate receptacle known to extinguish combustion and customarily use for such purpose.
-- Outdoor welding shall only be allowed under the following circumstances: (i) welding, cutting, and grinding associated with welding activities shall not take place when the wind is over 15 miles per hour; (ii) all easily cleared grass, leaves, brush and other easily combustible materials must be cleared with a twenty (20) foot radius surrounding the area where activity is to take place before any welding, cutting or grinding begins; and, (iii) a spotter with water and a ready pressurized delivery system must be on hand before any welding, cutting or grinding begins and remain on hand until the activity is completed.