Burn ban expires, but permits still needed

The burn ban for Cameron County expired this past weekend giving residents in rural portions of the area a small window of opportunity to burn leaves, branches, grass and brush.

However, outdoor burn permits are still required, authorities said.

“We are still in an exceptional drought, but it is also important to allow people to burn so that people don’t start dumping in drainage ditches,” Humberto Barrera, Emergency Management coordinator for the county, said.

“People’s yards are starting to get filled up with ‘ramas,’ or clippings. It’s starting to become a problem,” he said.

“But as a precaution, we are sending an inspector to every potential fire site to make sure that people are not burning too close to houses and to make sure that they are not burning construction material, household trash, wood and other items,” he said.

He also warned that chemicals and wiring should never be burned.

Barrera said that the Cameron County Fire Marshal’s Office, which issues the permits, and his office are working closely with the Sheriff’s Department to ensure compliance with the requirement of a permit and that burning be confined to leaves, brush, branches and clippings.

“We need to be sure that we keep a handle on it,” Barrera said. “Law enforcement is doing a real good job of enforcing and keeping the public safe.”

The burn permit costs $25 and covers a two-week period.

Although the burn ban was in place last month, the Cameron County Commissioners Court agreed to allow fireworks from Dec. 20 to midnight on New Year’s Day.

Barrera said that not one fire was reported from the rural areas during the holidays from the use of fireworks.

“A lot of people said that we shouldn’t allow rockets, but the world didn’t end. We just worked very closely with the vendors to make sure and tell buyers not to point the fireworks at houses. It worked out pretty good,” he said.

Barrera also noted that the fog during the holidays kept the ground moist, helping to keep things in check.

eperez-trevino@brownsvilleherald.com