Rain Staves Off Burn Ban
County Fire Marshal Hershel Lee says if forecasters are right, Travis County could avoid another burn ban for now. Photo courtesy flickr.com/photos/alexikEven with significant rainfall early this week, Travis County could be faced with another burn ban. However, forecasters are predicting another good bit of rain. County Fire Marshal Hershel Lee says if they’re right, Austin may be in the clear – for the time being, anyway.
“When we get another three inches of rain then we may be able to stave off having a burn ban for a couple of weeks,” Lee says. “But we’ll just have to wait until the rains arrive to see how much there is, and I’ll make a decision after.”
Lee says the wet winter was a blessing and a curse. While the rains helped break the severity of the drought, they also allowed for growth of brush and grass –perfect fuel for wildfires when it dries out.
