Public Information Office 2300 Bloomdale Rd. Suite 4192 McKinney, Texas 75071 www.collincountytx.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 27, 2011

Contact: Fire Marshal Michael R. Smith, 972-548-5576.

Collin County extends outdoor burn ban

(McKINNEY, Texas) – Officials here announced a 90-day extension to the current outdoor burn ban for Collin County today, due to continuing drought conditions that have kept the risk for grass fires in North Texas extremely high. Due to the dry conditions, state and local fire officials are warning residents that all outdoor burning is prohibited in unincorporated areas of Collin County until further notice.

Collin County’s Fire Marshal Michael R. Smith said today’s burn ban extension deals with outdoor and open burning.  

Smith said that local fire departments in Collin County have fought more than 200 grassfires in the last nine weeks.

“We desperately need rain and a lot of it,” he said. “The National Weather Service reports that we could see above average temperatures through the fall and winter months bringing in severe fire danger concerns. We’re asking folks to be extra careful about fire safety right now. A small fire could spread rapidly with the dry weather and ground conditions we have right now.”

Residents living within a city limits should contact municipal officials or fire departments for specific information or restrictions regarding burning within those boundaries.

State and local fire officials also ask residents to please report all outdoor fires immediately.

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