Gonzales County burn ban lifted

With stormy weather looming on the horizon for later that day, Gonzales County Judge Pat Davis on Monday, May 5, lifted the outdoor burning ban that had been in place for the county since March 31.

“Due to the recent rains the hazardous conditions have been alleviated,” Davis stated in his order. “Citizens are cautioned to exercise extreme caution when burning is necessary.”

County commissioners had discussed lifting the ban at their April 28 regular meeting, when County Emergency Management Coordinator and Fire Marshal Jimmy Harless told them the county’s Keetch-Byram Drought Index, or KBDI, had dropped to 471, which was much lower than the 556 it was at when the ban was put into effect.

“We’re starting to have some folks, and it's understandable, that they're burning stuff, assuming that the burn ban has been removed already,” Harless said.

However, commissioners decided to leave the ban in place for the time being and to allow Davis to lift it if the area received enough rainfall in the following days. Since then, the area has had several days of precipitation and the KBDI dropped to an average of 383, with a low of 183 in some areas and a high of 493 in others.

Gonzales County received additional rain on both Monday, May 5, and Tuesday, May 6, as the area was under an extended tornado watch at one point.