Harris County, Texas -- Harris County Commissioners’ Court approved a burn ban that goes into effect immediately, Thursday, September 17, 2026, and will remain in place for 90 days, unless extended or suspended by the court.
The burn ban, requested by the Harris County Fire Marshal’s office, is in response to prolonged dry conditions in parts of unincorporated Harris County.
“The county has received a significant amount of rainfall in the last couple of weeks, but it has not reached all areas of the county equally,” said Fire Marshal Laurie L. Christensen. “Harris County stretches more than 1,700 square miles, so while conditions in some areas may have improved, the threat of a fire spreading quickly remains in parts of the county, creating additional challenges for our first responders.”
Despite dry conditions, we have not seen a significant increase in outdoor fires.
“While call volumes have not increased, the HCFMO did reach out to the local fire chiefs, who supported the request for a burn ban,” Christensen said. “The request was made based on current conditions and in coordination with the Texas A&M Forest Service.”
The burn ban prohibits all outdoor burning unless the burning occurs within an enclosure that contains all flames and sparks.
What is allowed:
- Outdoor burning authorized by Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)
- Approved ceremonial fires.
- Non-commercial cooking like backyard cookouts and barbecues.
- Additionally, welding and other "hot work" can be carried out as long as they comply with county fire code regulations.
Violation of the ban is a Class "C" misdemeanor, punishable by up to a $500 fine. In addition, any person who starts a fire that causes damage to property without the owner's consent may be charged with Reckless Damage or Destruction, a Class C misdemeanor, or arson, a felony.
During dry conditions, certain outdoor activities can increase the risk of wildfires. Always use caution when working with anything that produces heat or sparks, and take extra precautions during periods of particularly dry or windy weather.
Smoking Material Safety:
- Never walk away and leave a cigarette burning.
- Do not discard cigarettes in vegetation such as mulch, potted plants or landscaping, peat moss, dried grasses, leaves or other things that could ignite easily.
- Never throw a lit cigarette or cigarette butts out the window of a vehicle. It could land on dry grass or be blown into dry vegetation and start a fire.
Vehicle and Lawn Maintenance:
- Avoid driving through tall grass and never park your vehicle on dry grass or leaves. Hot exhaust pipes and mufflers can start fires.
- Adjust the safety chains on your trailers to ensure they don’t drag and create sparks that can cause roadside fires.
- Lawnmowers are designed to mow lawns, not weeds or dry grass. Metal blades striking rocks can create sparks and start fires.
Outdoor Cooking:
- Avoid placing the grill on dry grass. A stray spark could easily start a fire.
- Only use lighter fluid that is designed for grilling, not gasoline or other flammable liquids. If using a charcoal starter fluid, never add it after the grill has started. The liquid could spark a flare-up and cause an injury.
- When finished with charcoal grilling, let the coals completely cool and dispose of them in a metal container and soak with water.
If you see an unattended fire, call 9-1-1 and notify your local fire department immediately. Even a small fire can spread quickly and threaten people and property.
The mission of the Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office is to safeguard the lives and property of the residents in Harris County through effective fire prevention, fire investigation, education, emergency response, and emergency management.
Additional Resources:Dry Condition Preparation and Burn Ban OverviewDry Weather Safety Tips GraphicTexas Weather Connection: Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI)