Burn ban still on

Jack County Judge Mitchell Davenport said many people are asking if the county is still under a burn ban.

He wants all to know that it is.

Davenport said although the county received inches of rain over the last week, the fire danger is still high.

Days of high winds, high temperatures and low humidity combined with dry grass and other fuels make for increased potential for grass fires.

Wednesday afternoon alone, Jack County firefighters battled five blazes. The first they responded to shortly after 1 p.m. was in Clay County where they assisted firefighters there.

A second occurred on Highway 380 near Dark Canyon Road with another farther west. Two more fires occurred in the vicinity of Crooked Creek Road and Campsey Road.

“Although we have gotten four inches of rain in some places, there is still a great deal of fuel,” Davenport said. “The firemen told me last week they fought a fire where they were walking in two inches of water, but the fire was moving across the tall grass above it.”

The burn ban was ordered for 90 days on February 13. It reads that it may be terminated earlier based on a determination by the Texas Forest Service or the Jack County Commissioners’ Court.

A violation of the order is a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $500.

Davenport said an easy way to determine if the burn ban is still in effect is to look for the “No Burning” flag flying at the courthouse. He said once it is rescinded, the public will also be notified through social media and the information will be shared with the Herald-Gazette.