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Daily Fire Danger: TAMU-Forest Service

Forecast Fire Danger : TAMU- Forecast

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TECQ Requirements for burning

Burn Permits

Obtaining a Permit
To obtain a burn permit, call 830-693-4060.

Burn Day
Burn days are determined by the on-duty captain. Requirements for a burn day include:

• Non-Ozone Alert day
• No burn ban in effect
• No red flag or high hazard days
• Burning shall be conducted in compliance with the following meteorological and timing considerations:
  • The initiation of burning shall commence no earlier than one (1) hour after sunrise and be completed on the same day not later than one (1) hour before sunset.
  • Burning shall not be commenced when surface wind speed is predicted to be less than 6 miles per hour (five (5) knots) or greater than 23 miles per hour(twenty (20) knots) during the burn period.
  • Burning shall not be conducted during periods of actual or predicted persistent low-level atmospheric temperature inversions.

Open Burning Regulations

A fire is any amount of heat that can produce smoke or flame. Failure to comply with open burning regulations may result in the issuance of a citation and /or loss of future burning privileges.

The party responsible for the burn must be present and remains liable for damages, injuries or other consequences that may result from burning, even when it is carried out in compliance with these regulations.

If complaints are received and the complaint is valid (to be determined by the Fire Marshal, Fire Department or Law Enforcement Officer), burning will have to cease.

General regulations include:

• Open burning shall be conducted as required by other governing agencies regulating emissions, i.e. TECQ Outdoor burning (PDF)
• Hauling of materials, brush or vegetation onto the site from another property will render this permit invalid.
• Only natural materials shall be burned.
• The initiation of burning shall commence no earlier than one hour after sunrise. Burning shall be completed on the same day not later than one hour before sunset
• Open burning may be immediately discontinued if determined that smoke emissions are offensive to occupants surrounding property or if the open burning is determined to constitute a hazardous condition.
• Outdoor burning shall be limited to the burning of brush, grass, leaves, trees and vegetation generated only from the property where the burn is to take place. Electrical insulation, treated lumber, plastics, non-wood construction/demolition materials, heavy oils, asphaltic materials, potentially explosive materials, chemical wastes, tires, natural or synthetic rubber and household garbage shall not be burned.
• Burning shall be commenced and conducted only when wind direction and other meteorological conditions are such that smoke and other pollutants will not cause adverse effects to any public road, landing strip, navigable water, or off-site structure containing sensitive receptor(s).
• If at any time the burning causes or may tend to cause smoke to blow onto or across a road or highway so as to obscure the vision of motorist the fire shall be extinguished.
• Burning must be conducted downwind of or at least 300 feet (ninety (90) meters) from any structure containing sensitive receptors located on adjacent properties unless prior written approval is obtained from the adjacent occupant with possessory control. Evidence of such written permission shall be located on the site of the burn.
• Burning shall be conducted in compliance with the following meteorological and timing considerations:
  • The initiation of burning shall commence no earlier than one hour after sunrise and be completed on the same day not later than one hour before sunset. A responsible party shall be present at all times during the active burn phase and when the fire is progressing. In cases where residual fires and /or smoldering objects continue to emit smoke after this time, such areas shall be extinguished if the smoke from these areas has the potential to create a nuisance or traffic hazard condition. In no case shall the extent of the burn area be allowed to increase after this time.
• A garden hose connected to a water supply or other approved extinguishing equipment shall be readily available for use at open-burning sites.
• Due to radiant heat the burn area must be no closer than 50 feet from any structure.

Clearances
Open burning shall not be conducted within 50 feet of any structure or other combustible materials, i.e. trees, bushes, power lines, etc.

Pile Size
The burn pile shall be no larger than 10 feet in diameter and 4 feet in height (for residential).

Attendance
A competent adult shall continuously attend the burn pile until the fire is extinguished. This person shall have a garden hose connected to a water source or other approved fire extinguishing equipment readily available for use.

Hours
The initiation of burning shall commence no earlier than 1 hour after sunrise and be completed on the same day not later than 1 hour before sunset. All fires shall be extinguished before sunset.

Materials and Items that Absolutely Cannot Be Burned

• Petroleum products
• Asphaltic materials
• Items containing natural or synthetic rubber
• Lumber Household garbage / refuse (including newspapers and boxes)

Disclaimer
Authorization to conduct outdoor burning does not exempt or excuse a person from the responsibility, consequences, damages, or injuries resulting from the authorized burning and does not excuse a person from complying with other applicable laws, ordinances or regulations.