Smith County reports 142 reports of outdoor burning since ban

TYLER, Texas (KLTV) - A Smith County official reported receiving 142 reports of outdoor burning across the county since a burn ban took effect Aug. 18. Smith County Fire Marshal Chad Hogue gave an update Tuesday during the monthly Smith County Commissioners Court meeting. He said that in the three weeks since the ban took effect, the Smith County Fire Marshal's Office has issued 23 citations to residents for illegal burning. Hogue said the latest average Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) for Smith County was 669, down from the 735 he reported a week ago. KBDI is an index ranging from 0 to 800 that is used to determine forest fire potential and is based on a daily water balance, in which the drought factor is balanced with precipitation and soil moisture, according to the Texas Water Commission. Despite the rain that Tropical Depression Edouard brought to Smith County, Hogue said it was not a significant amount. 'We are pretty much where we started when we started the burn ban,' he told commissioners. The burn ban order is in effect for 90 days unless conditions improve and commissioners vote to terminate the order. Exceptions to the burn ban include cooking on a grill or in a smoker with an enclosed lid and professional welding operations that have registered with the Fire Marshal's Office before welding. Fires authorized by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality are also allowed, such as firefighter training, public utility operations, Texas Department of Transportation operations, pipeline or mining operations and other commercial ventures.