BURN BAN  COUNTY OF WALKER STATE OF TEXAS  ORDER PROHIBITING OUTDOOR BURNING  WHEREAS, Section 352.081 of thel Local Government Code provides that the commissioners court ofa county, by order, may prohibit outdoor burning in the unincorporated area oft the county ifthe commissioners court makes ai finding that circumstances present int the unincorporated area create aj public WHEREAS, the Walker County Commissioners Court does hereby find that circumstances present int the unincorporated areas of Walker County create aj public safety hazard that would be exacerbated by certain WHEREAS, Section 352.081 oft the Local Government Code provides for exemptions from county burn bans for certified burn managers meeting the requirements ofl Natural Resources Code, Ch. 153, and the County Commissioners Court believes that additional exceptions are warranted to reduce the likelihood of BE ITTHEREFORE ORDERED that the following emergency regulations are hereby established for portions oft the unincorporated areas of Walker County, Texas not subject to public ownership or  safety hazard that would be exacerbated by outdoor burning; and,  outdoor burning; and  dangerous and uncontrolled wildfire.  stewardship for the duration oft the above mentioned declaration.  (1) Actions Prohibited:  Except as described hereinafter, a person violates this order ifhe/she ignites, or causes ignition of any combustible or vegetative material outside of an enclosure which serves to contain all flames and/or sparks, or orders such burning or ignition by others.  (2) Enforcement:  (a) Under notification of suspected outdoor burning, the fire department assigned to the location oft the fire shall respond to the scene and take immediate measures to contain and (b) Ifrequested by a fire official, a duly-commissioned peace officer, when available, shall (c) Ina accordance with Section 352.081 oft the Local Government Code, a person who knowingly or intentionally violates this order commits a Class C Misdemeanor,  toe extinguish the fire.  be sent to the scene to investigate the nature of the fire.  punishable by a fine up to $500.  (d) Iftl the responding peace officer finds that the person responsible for the fire is in violation of(1) above, a citation shall be issued for: Violation of Burn Ban Order.    BURN BAN  (3) Exceptions:  (a) This order shall not apply to the outdoor burning of vegetative material caused by welding or by other causes relating to the act of welding, ifs such burning is not malicious (b) This order shall not apply to a prescribed burn conducted by burn personnel ofai federal or state agency, or an institution ofhigher education for prescribed burns on agency owned or managed properties, or for purposes oft training local fire department personnel (c) This order shall not apply to a prescribed burn conducted for the purpose ofresearch or demonstration by burn personnel ofa federal or state agency, or institution of higher (d) This order shall not prohibit other lawful burning as may be permissible by rules established by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). (e) This order shall not prohibit prescribed burning by a commercial or private prescribed burn manager certified by the Texas Department of Agriculture, or by other individual or entities exempted by Section 352.081 oft the Local Government Code. I) This order shall not prohibit individuals from burning household garbage if done sO in a  or intentional.  or prescribed burn managers.  education.  proper burn barrel with a screen over the top.  Bei it also ORDEREDthat the purpose oft this order is the mitigation ofthe public safety hazard posed by wildfires during the current dry weather period, by curtailing the practice of outdoor burning without specific approval oft the commissioner's court or without appropriate licensing from the state. This order prohibiting outdoor burning shall remain in effect for a period of! ninety (90) days, and shall expire at the end ofs said period or upon the date the Walker County Commissioners Court, by order, determines that the circumstances present in the unincorporated areas of Walker County no longer create a public safety hazard that would be exacerbated by outdoor burning, whichever occurs earlier. ORDERED THIS 75 DAYOFOCt, 2024 to take effect at 12:00 pm.  WALKER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT Di  Colt Christian Countyudge   dailhenet Attest: Kari A. French County Clerk  FILED FOR RECORD At.7.30-ocock. AM OST07-2024 KARI FRENCH, COUNTY CLERK WALKER COUNTY,TEXAS By. MAMACh  COUNTI  Deputy