Outdoor burn ban for unincorporated areas of Rockwall County begins October 22

Rockwall, TX (October 22, 2024) – In an Order signed October 22, the Rockwall County Commissioners Court implemented an outdoor burn ban for unincorporated areas of Rockwall County. Commissioners found circumstances that would create a public safety hazard exacerbated by outdoor burning.

The following regulations are detailed in the Order:

• Except as provided, all outdoor burning is banned in the unincorporated area of the County for 60 days from the date the original order was adopted.
• Enforcement:
  • Under notification of suspected outdoor burning, the fire department assigned to the location of the fire shall respond to the scene and take immediate measures to contain and extinguish the fire.
  • If requested by a fire official, a commissioned peace officer shall be sent to the scene to investigate the nature of the fire.
  • In accordance with Section 352.081 of the Local Government Code, a person who knowingly or intentionally violates this order commits a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to $500 and a peace officer may issue a citation for such violation named: VIOLATION OF BURN BAN ORDER.
• This Order does not prohibit outdoor burning activities related to public health and safety that are authorized by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for (a) firefighter training; (b) public utility, natural gas pipeline or mining operations; or (c) planting or harvesting of agricultural crops.
• This order does not prohibit prescribed burns conducted by a prescribed burn manager certified under Section 153.048 of the Texas Natural Resources Code, and meets the standards set forth in Section 153.047 of the Texas Natural Resources Code.
• All or part of this order may be rescinded at any time by the County Judge.

This Order prohibiting outdoor burning shall remain in effect for a period of 60 days and shall expire at the end of the said period or upon the date the Rockwall County Commissioners Court or County Judge determines that the circumstances present in the unincorporated areas of Rockwall County no longer create a public safety hazard that would be exacerbated by outdoor burning, whichever occurs earlier.

Submitted by Jim Barto, edited for publication in Blue Ribbon News. 

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