This Outdoor Burning Ban will be in place for the next 90 days.

As of today, all outdoor burning in Tarrant County is PROHIBITED.

The high fuel load from the dry grass, lower than normal humidity and the strong gusty winds that occurs during this time of the year makes the Ban on Outdoor Burning necessary to protect properties in Tarrant County.

We urge all residents of Tarrant County to help us during this time.

For our residents in the rural areas, we strongly suggest that you make sure that you keep an area of about 30 feet mowed around your home and out buildings to prevent a fire from reaching your structures.

We encourage all Tarrant County residents to BE SAFE.

Randy Renois
Tarrant County Fire Marshal
2750 Premier Street
Phone: 817-838-4660

Outdoor Cooking During a Burn Ban

Many Tarrant County residents are rightfully concerned about how a burn ban affects their plans to cook outdoors.  The Tarrant County Fire Marshal’s Office urges all residents to use common sense when handling flammable materials during a burn ban.   Here are a few guidelines to follow for outdoor cooking:

• Gas grills are the safest outdoor cooking option.  Please keep the flames covered during the operation of your gas grill.
• If you want to use a charcoal or wood-burning grill, it must be placed on a concrete, gravel or dirt surface well away (5 feet) from any combustible materials.  Please keep the cover on the grill during use.
• Smokers can be used if they are placed on a concrete, gravel, or dirt surface well away (5 feet) from combustible materials.  Keep the flames covered during use.
• Be sure to have a water source like a bucket of water or a garden hose nearby in case of emergencies.  Please do not ignite charcoal briquettes in winds higher than 15 mph.

Outdoor Welding Guidelines during the Ban on Outdoor Burning

Where welding must be performed in the field, the following mitigating efforts will be in force until the Ban on Outdoor Burning has expired:

1. All areas where welding, cutting or grinding operations are being performed will be free of vegetation for at least twenty-five feet in all directions;
2. Surface around welding area will be wetted down;
3. Winds speeds must be no more than 15 miles per hour while performing welding, cutting or grinding operations outside of barriers or enclosures;
4. A dedicated fire watch person will attend each welder, cutter, grinder and any activity that causes a spark;
5. A minimum of one water pressure fire extinguisher per fire watch person is required;
6. Each site will have cellular telephone communications for emergency response;
7. All welding, cutting and grinding operations may be performed in a total welding enclosure, or "welding box", that is sufficiently high to control sparks and includes a fire retardant cover over the top. Wind speeds must not exceed 30 miles per hour while utilizing an enclosure;
   1. Where welding (above ground and sub-surface) is required in an area where there is a potential for a hazardous atmosphere, barriers will be substituted for total enclosures (e.g. "wind walls") to prevent sparks from coming in contact with any combustible material;
   2. The barriers will be installed to allow ventilation of the work area and ingress and egress to the work area for personnel safety;
   3. Sub-surface, or "bell hole", welding and grinding operations within approved excavations are allowed if all other mitigation efforts are included;
8. If an emergency exists where welding has to be performed, the Fire Marshal may issue a temporary exception to the order.