Judge Brown Issues Burn Ban
For Hopkins County, Thursday

From County Judge Chris Brown

On Thursday, August 9, 2012, in conjunction with the Hopkins County Commissioners Court, Hopkins County Judge Chris Brown has issued a Burn Ban, effective immediately for all of Hopkins County.

The specifications for the Burn Ban are as follows:

STATE OF TEXAS §
§
COUNTY OF HOPKINS §

ORDER PROHIBITING OUTDOOR BURNING
WHEREAS, the Texas Forest Service has determined that drought conditions exist within the county;
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED by the Commissioners’ Court of Hopkins County that all outdoor burning
is prohibited in the unincorporated area of the county for 90 days from the date of adoption of this Order, unless the restrictions are terminated earlier based on a determination made by the Texas Forest Service or this Court. This Order is adopted pursuant to Local Government Code §352.081, and other applicable statutes.

This Order does not prohibit outdoor burning activities related to public health and safety that are authorized by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for:
(1) firefighter training;
(2) public utility, natural gas pipeline or mining operations;
(3) State funded road projects with a plan of action on file;
(4) burns that are conducted by a prescribed burn manager certified under Section 153.048,
Natural Resources Code, and meet the standards of Section 153.047, Natural Resources Code;
(5) commercial welding projects with a plan of action on file;
(6) small fires for cooking in established contests sanctioned by Hopkins County or a municipal
body with proper plan filed with the fire marshal’s office.
The County Judge may rescind this Order upon a determination that the circumstances that required the Order no longer exist.
In accordance with Local Government Code §352.081(h), a violation of this Order is a Class C
Misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not to exceed $500.00.

______________________________
Chris Brown, Hopkins County Judge


STATE OF TEXAS §
§
COUNTY OF HOPKINS §

ORDER – RESTRICTING OUTDOOR BURNING
WHEREAS, The Texas Forest Service has determined that drought conditions exist within Hopkins
County
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the following emergency regulations are hereby established for all unincorporated areas of Hopkins County, Texas for the duration of the above mentioned declaration; that all outdoor burning is prohibited in the unincorporated area of the county for 7 days from the date of this Order, unless the restrictions are terminated earlier based on a determination made by the Texas Forest Service or the Commissioners Court. This Order is adopted pursuant to Local Government Code §352.081, and other applicable statutes. This Order does not prohibit outdoor burning activities related to public health and safety that are authorized by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for:
(1) firefighter training;
(2) public utility, natural gas pipeline or mining operations;
(3) State funded road projects with a plan of action on file;
(4) burns that are conducted by a prescribed burn manager certified under Section 153.048,
Natural Resources Code, and meet the standards of Section 153.047, Natural Resources Code;
(5) commercial welding projects with a plan of action on file;
(6) small fires for cooking in established contests sanctioned by Hopkins County or a municipal
body with proper plan filed with the fire marshal’s office.
The County Judge may rescind this Order upon a determination that the circumstances that required the Order no longer exist.
In accordance with Local Government Code §352.081(h), a violation of this Order is a Class C
Misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not to exceed $500.00.
____________________________________
Hopkins County Judge, Chris Brown

STATE OF TEXAS §
§
COUNTY OF HOPKINS §
DECLARATION OF DISASTER
RELATED TO RISK OF WILDFIRES

WHEREAS, Hopkins County has not had rainfall for an extended period of time, creating hot and dry conditions; and
WHEREAS, weather forecasters offer little promise of a change in the hot, dry conditions in the near future; and
WHEREAS, these hot, dry conditions pose the threat of large, dangerous and fast-moving wildfires; and
WHEREAS, such fires have the potential of endangering lives and damaging property on a large scale; and
WHEREAS, the Texas Government Code Chapter 418 give the county judge the power to declare a local disaster within the county “if the threat of disaster is imminent”, and
WHEREAS, the magnitude of the potential damage and the rapidity at which such a fire could escalate to major proportions constitute an imminent threat of disaster, and
WHEREAS, declaration of such disaster authorized the imposition of controls on activities which tend to increase the likelihood of fires; and
WHEREAS, such controls, once implemented, have the potential of protecting lives and property by mitigating the threat of dangerous fires;
WHEREAS, a local disaster declaration expires seven days after its issuance, unless the commissioners
court consents to its renewal or continuance; and
BE IT THEREFORE PROCLAIMED that I, Chris Brown, County Judge of Hopkins County, do hereby declare a state of disaster based on the threat of large wildfires in Hopkins County, Texas; and
BE IT ALSO PROCLAIMED that this state of disaster will continue until rescinded in accordance with the above cited statute, but in no instance will this declaration continue for more than seven days without being authorized by the Hopkins County Commissioners Court,
BE IT ALSO ORDERED THAT the purpose of this order is the mitigation of the hazard posed by wildfires by curtailing the practice of outdoor burning, which purpose is to be taken into account in any enforcement action based upon this order.
BE IT ALSO PROCLAIMED that a violation of this Disaster Declaration is punishable as a Class C misdemeanor by a fine not to exceed $500.00 or as authorized by Government Code §418.173 and adopted in the county’s emergency plan by a fine not to exceed $1000.00 or confinement in jail for a term not to exceed 180 days, whichever is greater.
This declaration shall be promptly publicized and filed with the County Clerk.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I affix my signature this 9th day of August, 2012.
_____________________________________
Hopkins County Judge, Chris Brown

All Welders in Hopkins County:

During the current dry conditions and with the implementation of the Disaster Declaration and Burn Ban, we are requiring you to take additional precautionary measures so we do not interrupt your ability to provide for your families.
 Please ensure all tall brush and weeds are kept low and a water supply is immediately available while welding at your shops.
 On projects away from your shop we are asking you inform the Hopkins County Fire Department Dispatch of your location and hours you will be on the location. They will need:
Name:
Cell Phone:
Location of project:
You can notify them by faxing the information to 903-885-3924
Or call 903-438-4040
On these locations you must have:
 a water supply immediately available to the entire project
 a spotter to help watch for incidental fires.
Without these items, you will be considered in violation of the Burn Ban.

Thank you for your assistance.
Chris Brown
County Judge
Office of the
County Judge

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