Burn Ban Lifted in Bastrop County After 88 Days

Recent rainfall and improved fire conditions prompt officials to allow outdoor burning again.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 12:00pm

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A vast, majestic landscape painting in muted tones of green, gray, and blue, depicting a sweeping, atmospheric scene of the Bastrop County countryside under a dramatic, cloudy sky. The composition uses deep perspective and dramatic backlighting to capture the mood of the recent rainfall and improved fire conditions, with any physical structures or objects dwarfed by the overwhelming scale of the natural environment.After months of drought, recent rains have helped ease wildfire risks in Bastrop County, allowing officials to lift a long-standing burn ban.Bastrop Today

Bastrop County, Texas has lifted a monthslong burn ban that was initially set three months ago, after recent rainfall and improved fire conditions across the region. The county's Keetch-Byram Drought Index, which measures wildfire potential, has dropped significantly in recent weeks, prompting the unanimous decision by county commissioners and local fire chiefs to allow outdoor burning once again.

Why it matters

Burn bans are an important tool for local officials to restrict outdoor burning and mitigate wildfire risk during periods of extreme drought and high fire danger. The lifting of this ban signals that the region's fire risk has subsided, allowing residents to resume normal outdoor activities while still requiring ongoing monitoring of conditions.

The details

Bastrop County Commissioners voted on April 13 to allow the burn ban, which had been in place for 88 days, to expire at midnight on Monday. Officials cited data from the Texas A&M Predictive Services showing the county was at the lowest possible rate for fire danger, with the Keetch-Byram Drought Index dropping from previous levels around 600 down to 422 earlier this month.

  • The burn ban was initially set three months ago.
  • Commissioners voted to lift the ban on April 13, 2026.
  • The ban expired at midnight on Monday, April 14, 2026.

The players

James Altgelt

The Office of Emergency Management Coordinator for Bastrop County, who provided data and recommendations to commissioners on lifting the burn ban.

Bastrop County Commissioners

The county governing body that unanimously voted to allow the burn ban to expire after recent rainfall and improved fire conditions.

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What they’re saying

“'Texas A&M Predictive services show that we're at the lowest rate possible for fire danger.'”

— James Altgelt, Office of Emergency Management Coordinator

“'As you saw, we were blessed with rain. We didn't get it all at one time, which was nice, so we didn't have any flooding problems.'”

— James Altgelt, Office of Emergency Management Coordinator

What’s next

Officials said they will continue to monitor fire risk through the coming weeks to determine if any future burn restrictions may be necessary.

The takeaway

The lifting of the burn ban in Bastrop County demonstrates the importance of data-driven decision making by local officials to balance public safety with allowing normal outdoor activities. It also highlights the region's resilience in recovering from drought conditions through timely rainfall.