As Austin prepares for the fireworks and fiestas of the new year, the Travis County Fire Marshal has enacted a burn ban for unincorporated areas of the county.
A burn ban prohibits all outdoor burning in Travis County, including brush fires, bonfires, trash burning and campfires outside designated areas. The ban, put in place Tuesday, was enacted due to cold and dry conditions and will run through Jan. 6 unless lifted early by the fire marshal or county judge, according to the Fire Marshal’s Office. The office also encouraged county residents to “make fire-wise choices by not shooting off their own fireworks at home” for the new year.
“New Year’s Eve should be a time for celebration, not emergencies,” said Travis County Fire Marshal Gary Howell. “Attending a professional fireworks display or choosing non-firework alternatives like glow sticks and confetti is the safest way to celebrate the new year. Making smart choices on New Year’s Eve helps protect families, neighbors, and first responders across Travis County.”…