Several East Texas counties enact burn bans

EAST TEXAS (KTRE) - Multiple East Texas counties and municipalities are enacting burn bans in response to recent dry weather. Houston County Judge Jim Lovell has enacted a county-wide burn ban effective immediately. As of Wednesday morning, all of Houston County, including the City of Crockett, is under a burn ban until further notice. Polk County also issued a burn ban. Polk County Emergency Management stated, “Today, County Judge Sydney Murphy issued a Local Disaster Declaration that includes an Order Prohibiting Outdoor Burning for the unincorporated areas of the County due to the dry weather conditions and the threat of wildfire. The purpose of the order is the mitigation of the hazard posed by wildfires by curtailing the practice of outdoor burning.” A burn ban is also in effect for Newton County, according to a declaration issued by County Judge Ronald Cochran. This order will be in place for seven days unless it’s extended. In Angelina County, the City of Hudson has banned burning within the city limits effective Thursday, July 20.