Burn ban NOT in effect.
BURN NOTIFICATION CHANGES EFFECTIVE 12/10/19:
Parker County Fire Marshal's Office no longer requires that you notify them by phone or online when you are burning. However, it is your responsibility to look on their website or Facebook page prior to burning and make sure burning is permissible for the day. In order to determine whether or not Parker County is under a Fire Weather Watch, access the National Weather Service to view current watches, warnings, and advisories. Keep in mind that if the winds are predicted to be 23 mph or greater (including forecast and actual wind gusts) at any time of the day, burning is automatically prohibited.
Outdoor burning in Texas is illegal unless certain requirements are followed when burning.
A person who violates a rule adopted under Section 382.018, Health and Safety Code, commits an offense that is a Class C misdemeanor, except that:
Parker County Fire Marshal's Office no longer requires that you notify them by phone or online when you are burning. However, it is your responsibility to look on their website or Facebook page prior to burning and make sure burning is permissible for the day. In order to determine whether or not Parker County is under a Fire Weather Watch, access the National Weather Service to view current watches, warnings, and advisories. Keep in mind that if the winds are predicted to be 23 mph or greater (including forecast and actual wind gusts) at any time of the day, burning is automatically prohibited.
Outdoor burning in Texas is illegal unless certain requirements are followed when burning.
- You cannot burn within 300 feet of a residential, recreational, commercial or industrial area that is not located on the property where the burning is occurring.
- The following prohibited materials cannot be burned:
- Electrical Insulation
- Treated lumber
- Plastics
- Non-wood construction/ demolition materials
- Petroleum products
- Asphaltic materials
- Potentially explosive materials
- Chemical wastes
- Items containing natural or synthetic rubber
- Burning must be done no earlier than one hour after sunrise and no later than one hour before sunset
- Burning can only be done at a time when the wind speed is greater than six mph and less than 23 mph
A person who violates a rule adopted under Section 382.018, Health and Safety Code, commits an offense that is a Class C misdemeanor, except that:
- the offense is a Class B misdemeanor if:
- the violation is a second or subsequent violation of a rule adopted under Section 382.018; or
- except as provided by Subdivision (2), the violation involves the burning of a substance specifically prohibited by a rule adopted under Section 382.018; and
- the offense is a Class A misdemeanor if the violation involves the burning of a tire or of insulation on copper wire.
- a fine not to exceed $4,000;
- confinement in jail for a term not to exceed one year; or
- both such fine and confinement.
- a fine not to exceed $2,000;
- confinement in jail for a term not to exceed 180 days; or
- both such fine and confinement.
- Sec. 28.04. Reckless Damage or Destruction. Class C Misdemeanor.
- Sec. 28.03. Criminal Mischief. Class C Misdemeanor up to a Felony of the First Degree if the amount of pecuniary loss is $200,000 or more.
- Sec. 28.02. Arson. State Jail Felony up to First Degree Felony
- Ample water supply to control or extinguish the fire or heavy equipment that may be used to control or extinguish the fire
- Control burns should have 50-foot area mowed around it
- Clear of any overhead obstructions or trees
- Do not use gasoline to start the fire
- Minimum of 300 feet from any structure containing sensitive receptors (residence, business, barn or greenhouse)
- Potential runoff may not flow into any public waterway
- Fire must not be left unattended and person conducting the burn must have a reliable means of contacting 911
- Wind speed between 6 to 12 mph
- Humidity level at 25% or greater
- Fire Marshal deputies offer inspection of burn sites if requested