WHEREAS, in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Code, Section 352.081, the Commissioners Court hereby finds and declares thatdrought conditions exist in Liberty County; and such conditions create an imminent threat of destruction from wild fire; and,
WHEREAS, declaration of such drought conditions authorizes the imposition of controls
on activities which tend to increase the likelihood of such fires; and,
WHEREAS, circumstances present in all or part of the unincorporated areas in Liberty County create a public safety hazard that would be exacerbated by outdoor burning;
BE IT THEREFORE ORDERED that the following emergency regulations are hereby established for all unincorporatedareas ofLiberty County, Texas, with this Order being in effect until a determination is made that drought conditions no longer exist; or a public safety hazard will not be exacerbated by outdoor burning and the threat of wild fires ceases.
A. A person commits an offense if the person engages in burning any combustible material outside of an enclosure which serves to contain all flames and/or sparks or orders such burning by others.
B. An offense under this Order is a Class C Misdemeanor punishable by fine up to
$500.00.
BE IT ALSO ORDERED that this Order may be enforced byany duly commissioned Peace Officer and that the venue for prosecution of a violation of this order be the Justice of the Peace in the precinct in which the alleged violation occurred.
BEIT ALSO ORDERED that this Order does not apply to outdoor burning activities related to public health and safety that are authorized and permitted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for:
1. Firefighter training;
2. Public utility, natural gas pipeline, or mining operations or
3. Planting and harvesting of agriculture crops.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Order is entered thisthe 22nd ofNovember., 2016 and will be in effect until December 13. 2016, or until a determination is made that drought conditions no longer exist.
