Firewise toolkit

NFPA

Outdoor burn guide

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

HONOR - SERVICE - COMMUNITY - NATION

Sam Bass Fire


16248 Great Oaks Drive Round Rock TX 78681 us - Contact SBFD


The Firewise Communities Program provides a number of proven tools and resources for homeowners and other community residents who work tirelessly to help prepare for and reduce the risk of wildfire damage and loss in their neighborhoods.

Click the picture below to view downloads on the NFPA Firewise toolkit website. All information on sambassfd.com about the Firewise toolkit is from NFPA. 


The following is a chapter from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Outdoor Burn Guideline. When a burn ban is not in effect, these guidelines must be followed. The Fire Department and Williamson County must also be notified of any controlled burns within our fire district.


  1. Call the station at 512-255-0100 or Contact us via our web portal.
  2. Contact Williamson County Communications and notify them of your intent to controll burn. 


Title 30. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
Part I. TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
Chapter 111. CONTROL OF AIR POLLUTION FROM VISIBLE EMISSIONS AND PARTICULATE MATTER
Subchapter B. OUTDOOR BURNING
§ 111.219 General Requirements for Allowable Outdoor Burning

Outdoor burning which is otherwise authorized shall also be subject to the following requirements when specified in any section of this subchapter.

(1) Prior to prescribed or controlled burning for forest management purposes, the Texas Forest Service shall be notified.
(2) Burning must be outside the corporate limits of a city or town except where the incorporated city or town has enacted ordinances which permit burning consistent with the Texas Clean Air Act, Subchapter E, Authority of Local Governments.
(3) Burning shall be commenced and conducted only when wind direction and other meteorological conditions are such that smoke and other pollutants will not cause adverse effects to any public road, landing strip, navigable water, or off-site structure containing sensitive receptor(s).
(4) If at any time the burning causes or may tend to cause smoke to blow onto or across a road or highway, it is the responsibility of the person initiating the burn to post flag-persons on affected roads.
(5) Burning must be conducted downwind of or at least 300 feet (90 meters) from any structure containing sensitive receptors located on adjacent properties unless prior written approval is obtained from the adjacent occupant with possessory control.
(6) Burning shall be conducted in compliance with the following meteorological and timing considerations:

(A) The initiation of burning shall commence no earlier than one hour after sunrise. Burning shall be completed on the same day not later than one hour before sunset, and shall be attended by a responsible party at all times during the active burn phase when the fire is progressing. In cases where residual fires and/or smoldering objects continue to emit smoke after this time, such areas shall be extinguished if the smoke from these areas has the potential to create a nuisance or traffic hazard condition. In no case shall the extent of the burn area be allowed to increase after this time.
(B) Burning shall not be commenced when surface wind speed is predicted to be less than six miles per hour (mph) (five knots) or greater than 23 mph (20 knots) during the burn period.
(C) Burning shall not be conducted during periods of actual or predicted persistent low-level atmospheric temperature inversions.

(7) Electrical insulation, treated lumber, plastics, non-wood construction/demolition materials, heavy oils, asphaltic materials, potentially explosive materials, chemical wastes, and items containing natural or synthetic rubber must not be burned.

Source: The provisions of this § 111.219 adopted to be effective September 16, 1996, 21 TexReg 8509.
Title 30. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

Part I. TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

Chapter 111. CONTROL OF AIR POLLUTION FROM VISIBLE EMISSIONS AND PARTICULATE MATTER
Subchapter B. OUTDOOR BURNING
§ 111.221 Responsibility for Consequences of Outdoor Burning
The authority to conduct outdoor burning under this regulation does not exempt or excuse any person responsible from the consequences, damages, or injuries resulting from the burning and does not exempt or excuse anyone from complying with all other applicable laws or ordinances, regulations, and orders of governmental entities having jurisdiction, even though the burning is otherwise conducted in compliance with this regulation.

Source: The provisions of this § 111.221 adopted to be effective September 16, 1996, 21 TexReg 8509.