Jasper County Under Burn Ban Effective Tuesday Morning

JASPER COUNTY, Texas — Jasper County is now under a burn ban following a local disaster declaration issued early Tuesday morning by County Judge Mark Allen.

Allen said several factors led to the decision, including ongoing drought conditions, weather forecasts, and a recent increase in grass and brush fires across the county.

“Several factors are involved in issuing a burn ban, including the drought conditions, weather forecasts, and numbers of increasing fires throughout the county,” Allen said. “Most importantly though, is consideration for the volunteer firemen responding to these fires.”

Allen emphasized that the declaration is not just about property protection, but also about relieving the strain on volunteer firefighters who have been stretched thin responding to repeated fire calls.

“When a fire breaks out, firemen leave their jobs and their families to fight a fire,” he said. “After time, they begin to experience fatigue from constant wear of bunker gear and exposure to the heat. They are all at the point where they need relief so that they can be prepared in the event we have a major wildfire cycle like we experienced in 2023.”

Fire Safety Still a Priority

While the burn ban prohibits most forms of outdoor burning, Allen reminded residents that safety should always come first, even outside of emergency declarations.

“If it’s necessary to burn, do not build up a fire to the point where it can get out of control,” he said. “Always keep a continuous water source, like a hose, nearby — a five-gallon bucket never works as planned when a fire spreads.”

He also warned against leaving fires unattended and urged that any active fire be fully extinguished with water before leaving the area.

“We often see fires that get out of control because an owner left an active fire unattended,” Allen said. “Any fire started should be fully extinguished with water when everything has been burned.”

Ban Details

The local declaration and accompanying burn ban are effective immediately and will remain in place until further notice.

Violating the burn ban is a Class C misdemeanor under Texas law and may result in fines.