Refugio County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to extend the countywide burn ban through Nov. 10. The previous order was set to expire on Oct. 27. Commissioners will review conditions at their next meeting.
County Judge Gigi Poynter presented a recommendation from Emergency Management Coordinator Richard Jankovsky, who consulted local fire chiefs. Jankovsky's report showed the county's average Keetch-Byram Drought Index at 566.73, with readings from 423 to 693. The index runs from zero to 800, and higher readings indicate drier conditions and greater wildfire risk.
Rain began falling in parts of the county Tuesday, but officials said it was too early to tell whether it would significantly improve conditions. Poynter said the county had received little public pushback and one request for a burn permit under the current order. Commissioner Gary Lee Wright supported the Nov. 10 date, which allows the court to reassess at its next regular meeting.