(WBAP/KLIF) — After Wednesday’s large grass fire caused by a spark from a company cutting rebar, Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare has made a move to protect life and property. Fire Marshall Randy Renois says the large amount of manpower and resources dispatched on the fire made the move necessary.
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The fire danger in North Texas has become so critical that Tarrant County issued a disaster declaration, Friday, which prohibits outdoor burning, a Class C Misdemeanor with a fine up to $500. Renois says the Texas A&M Forest Service Drought Index indicates drought conditions and fuel volatility. On June 17th, the index for the county was 289, however in July is was over 600 on a scale that has a maximum of 800. He says the extreme Texas heat is sucking the moisture out of just about everything, making many unincorporated areas a tinder box waiting to erupt with the smallest spark.
The disaster declaration prohibits any outdoor burning, which is punishable by up to a $500 fine. Outdoor burning is banned for the next week, however Renois expects another ban to be reissued after the current one expires and a 90-day ban can be issued at the next Commissioner’s Court Meeting.
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