Following several days of heavy, soaking rains, Ellis County Commissioners convened in a specially-called meeting to rescind a ban on outdoor burning. The ban, declared on July 20, was originally set to expire in mid-October.

The Keetch Byram Drought Index, a Texas Forest Service scale based on the soil capacity in eight inches of water that ranges from zero (no drought) to 800 (extreme drought), dropped steeply from over 600 on September 10 to only 65 on September 17.

Traditionally, the County declares a burn ban when the KBDI exceeds 500.

Any questions about burn bans in Ellis County may be directed to Fire Marshal’s Investigator Jim Pharr at [email protected] or 972-825-5555.