Denton County issues burn ban last week, luckily Sanger Fire Department has only responded to three

As of July 25, Denton County was under a mandatory burn ban due to dry, hot weather with little chance of relief in the immediate future. Luckily Sanger Assistant Fire Chief Casey Welborn said earlier this week that the local department had only responded to three grass fires since the burn ban went into effect. The Sanger Fire Department does have two personel and a grass truck employed through the state to some of the bigger fires that are going on in Texas. They were in the Hill Country figthing a fire when the Sanger News went to press on Wednesday.

Despite recent rainfall, persistent triple digit temperatures in the past two weeks have dried out soil moisture levels as well as grass, leaves, shrubs, and trees, which could serve as fuel in a grass fire.

Denton County Commissioners Court, upon recommendation by the Denton County Fire Marshal’s Office, issued the burn ban early last week.

“It is Denton County’s responsibility to ensure the safety of all residents,” said Denton County Fire Marshal Brad Sebastian. While northeast portions of the county has received more rain, southern Denton County is seeing a higher level of drought.

“We continuously monitor the conditions across Denton County and issue burn bans when we believe the potential for a major grass fire exists,” the fire marshal said.

With high temperatures again in the forecast, the danger for grass fires will increase, he said.

Denton County joins another 141 counties in Texas with burn bans currently in place including neighboring Wise and Tarrant counties, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.

While the ban is in effect, the following activities are prohibited:

Outdoor burning of a combustible material, including wood, lumber, leaves, brush, and more.

Outdoor cooking unless in a propane or natural gas grill with a full enclosure. Wood and charcoal grills are also allowed but only with a full enclosure, and the five-foot radius around the grill must be clear of vegetation and combustible material.

There are also multiple restrictions now in place regarding outdoor hotwork, such as welding. To learn more about those restrictions, visit https://bit.ly/3QiwQgi.

Ignoring this mandatory burn ban is a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500. The majority of Denton County is currently classified in “severe” drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor Map. The burn ban will remain in place until drought conditions are alleviated.