Burn ban lifted for VZC, disaster declaration extended

Submitted by Canton1 on
By Britne Hammons Staff Writer

The burn ban put in place for Van Zandt County Aug. 11 has been lifted.

County commissioners met Sept. 14 with County Fire Marshal Chuck Allen to hear his recommendation concerning the burn ban.

 A burn ban was placed on the county for a period of 90 days, as approved by the Van Zandt County commissioner’s court Aug. 11.

At that time, the Keetch-Bryam Drought Index used by the Texas A&M Forestry Service to predict fire danger for the area, rated that the county was in dangerous range and the level was expected to rise.

Allen told commissioners that the county was at a level of 700 with the max level being 800 and said without significant rains the county would remain under a ban.

But, due to recent rains, Allen told commissioners that he felt like the burn ban could be lifted.

“We are still dry, but we can allow people to go ahead and burn their big brush piles and stuff like that. There is still some green vegetation around also.”

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