Texas Border Business
EDINBURG – The Hidalgo County Commissioners Court on Tuesday voted to declare a local State of Disaster because of current and recent wildfires.
More than 800 acres have burned in four separate wildfires in Hidalgo County and current weather conditions are ideal for additional wildfires, which “constitutes an imminent threat of disaster,” the five-member Court determined.
The declaration was made during an emergency meeting of the Hidalgo County Commissioners Court and will help facilitate recovery efforts as well as enact additional safety measures. It goes into effect immediately and remains in effect until the Commissioners Court terminates the order.
“Public safety is our first priority and these wildfires can be an unpredictable danger,” said Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez.
In addition to the disaster declaration, the Commissioners Court enacted a burn ban for the unincorporated areas of the county. The burn ban extends to those incorporated cities that do not have a fire department.
The burn ban goes into effect Wednesday, April 6, and will remain in effect for 90 days. The ban may be terminated earlier if the Texas Forest Service declares that Hidalgo County no longer is in drought conditions.
The ban prohibits most outdoor burning except for burning that is authorized by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for such things as fire training; public utility or mining operations; and planting or harvesting of crops.
The Hidalgo County Fire Marshal also has the option of issuing “Burn Permits” that would allow households in unincorporated areas to burn trash.
