The Harris County Commissioners Court voted to lift many of the burn restrictions placed on residents during the latest drought, at a recent meeting.

As of Dec 21, residents who do not have regularly scheduled trash service will be allowed to burn domestic waste during daylight hours only. Some small ceremonial or recreational fires will also be allowed, provided there is approval from the Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office (HCFMO).

Tom Petty, a senior inspector with HCFMO, said recent rainfall allowed for easing up on the restrictions and if the rainfall continues he sees the possibility of further curtailing restrictions.

“Hopefully if we stay ahead in rainfall and have a better than average output of rain like we have had, it’s conceivable it could be completely lifted at some point,” Petty said.

Petty also cautions that area rainfall is still two-feet below normal for this time of the year.

Regardless of the type of outdoor burning one may do, officials want to remind residents that smoke can still be considered a nuisance to neighbors.

“Even though you may be careful about burning and do all the right steps, if you are not considerate about the smoke, Harris County Pollution Control can still cite you for the nuisance,” Petty said.

“Additionally, the smoke may not cross a road and cause a traffic hazard or interfere with normal road usage,” Harris County Pollution Control Services director Bob Allen added.

Harris County Fire Marshal Mike Montgomery also cautioned that the burn ban may still apply to county parks, however.

“Lifting the burn ban does not automatically apply to fires or smoking in county parks,” Montgomery said. “The final decision to allow cooking or fires in designated areas of a county park is up to each county commissioner.”

HCFMO also reminds residents that domestic waste, tree limbs, grass clippings and leaves are what is approved to burn. Building materials, large brush piles or any other debris is still banned. Officials also remind all residents to check the weather forecast before burning and to not burn on fire weather watch or red flag warning days.

Other recommendations include staying with the fire at all times, burn only from sunrise to sunset and have water readily available to extinguish the fire.

Montgomery also cautions that outdoor burning can be unpredictable at times and could cause serious injury and death. Montgomery said an eastern Harris County man was recently killed while burning trash.

“This tragic death indicates why we recommend other means of disposal, such as trash collection or hauling refuse to an authorized waste disposal site,” he said.

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