Fire officials are asking Brazos County residents to hold off on outdoor burning because of dangerously dry conditions, even though the county is not under a burn ban.
On Wednesday, a grass fire burned nearly 40 acres off Rabbit Lane north of Bryan. It took about 20 firefighters close to two hours to get the blaze under control.
No buildings were damaged, said Bryan Fire Chief Mike Donoho, but with the dry, windy conditions, the situation could have easily gotten out of hand.
"We do not currently have a burn ban in place," Donoho said, "but with the dry conditions, we're encouraging everyone not to do any outdoor burning."
Officials weren't sure how the fire started but said the dry conditions contributed to its quick spread.
Bryan Fire Lt. Buddy Micklitz said flames from Wednesday's grass fire came within 60 feet of two homes.
Brazos County commissioners will consider implementing a ban on outdoor burning at their Tuesday meeting.
Madison, Leon and Robertson counties have already issued burn bans, as have 106 other Texas counties, according to the Texas Forest Service.
Controlled burns in Burleson and Grimes counties were extinguished Wednesday after officials received numerous complaints from residents about smoke.
Fire officials said conditions were ripe for grass fires.
"I'm really surprised that the county hasn't already put in a burn ban," Micklitz said. "This is the time of year when all the vegetation is dead, and with the high winds and low humidity we've been having, it doesn't take much."
Commissioner Duane Peters said the county uses the Keetch-Byram Drought Index to determine whether to effect a burn ban.
The index measures moisture on a scale from zero to 800, with 800 representing completely dry conditions.
"Normally, when the KBDI is at 500 is when we talk about implementing a burn ban." Peters said, "And today, it looks like it's at 497."
Peters said County Judge Randy Sims could issue a temporary burn ban without the commissioners courts' consent in an emergency.
Even without an official burn ban in place, Donoho said, residents should consider the conditions.
"With the strong winds we've been having lately, we're strongly encouraging people to stop all outdoor burning."
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