A burn ban is being implemented in Kerr County, Texas, as the area continues to handle the catastrophic Hill Country floods.
The ban will go into effect at 5 p.m. Monday, July 7, in all precincts of Kerr County. The ban will remain in effect at least until the next regular commissioners’ court meeting on Monday, July 14.
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The burn ban was ordered by Judge Rob Kelly following an emergency meeting of the Kerr County Commissioners’ Court at 11 a.m. Monday.
The request came from Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha and Emergency Operations Center leaders. They believe that burning debris has interfered with ongoing search-and-rescue efforts along the Guadalupe River.
Sheriff Leitha explained that heat from fires disrupts drone and heat-detecting equipment used to locate missing persons. It also creates challenges for emergency workers searching for bodies.
“We understand that everyone has got plenty of debris. We know that. But pile it up and wait [on burning]. There will be time for that later,” Kerr County Commissioner Precinct 4 Commissioner Don Harris said in a Facebook post announcing the upcoming ban.
Commissioner Harris’ precinct was where a large portion of the flooding took place.