A dry spell of over 100 days with no considerable precipitation had officials considering enhanced measures to prevent any more fires. Many counties around Lubbock, including Crosby, Garza, and Lamb, have already instituted a burn ban.


“The dry grasses and everything out there are just a tinderbox. All they’re looking for is a spark,” Emergency Management Coordinator Clinton Thetford said. 


But Lubbock county residents may be in the clear for a little while longer. 


Lubbock County Emergency Management said they considered a burn ban, but Wednesday night all the county volunteer fire chiefs came together to discuss the issue before the next commissioner’s court. Ultimately, they decided to hold off for the time being. 


 Lubbock County has been able to avoid the move since 2012.


“One reason that we haven’t probably pulled that trigger yet, is we are very blessed with the number of volunteer fire departments that we have within our county. Most counties have three or four, maybe, and we are sitting at 10,” Thetford said. “Our volunteers are able to get to the fires very quickly and get them knocked down before they get out of control.”


The fire chiefs of the various volunteer fire departments said, they are able to work together for a fairly fast response time in the county, unlike some counties with less volunteers. 


They said, our topography and street layout don’t allow fires to burn as quickly as some areas of West Texas. 


“On high wind days, it’s usually not outdoor burning that starts the fire,” West Carlisle Fire Chief   and President of the Lubbock Co. Firefighters Association Tim Smith  said. “It’s a downed power line or someone dragging a chain off a pickup or trailer. A burn ban is not really going to prevent wildfires in our part of the country.”


They said, it’s costly to the county to institute a ban and have to provide alternate ways of disposing trash, along with the inconvenience for residents. So, it’s not a decision they take lightly. 
They have a plan in place to send multiple departments to a fire on high risk days, but with or without a ban, they’re asking residents to do their part.


“The #1 thing they can do to prevent fires is use common sense,” Smith said. “Don’t try to put it out yourself prior to calling 911. So important. Call for help first. We can always turn around if you get it out.”  


Officials urged residents to use common sense when working with machinery or any sort of flame. Outdoor burning is discouraged at this time, especially on windy days. Everything from sparks from exhaust or a lit cigarette can be dangerous. 


“Especially on our high risk days. Just be extremely cautious on those days, because a fire that you start may not affect you, but could affect a whole lot of other people,” Thetford said. 


CLICK HERE for a map of which counties are under a burn ban at the Texas A&M Forest Service. 
CLICK HERE for the rules on what is prohibited during a burn ban at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.