Beginning on July 30, Collin County issued a burn ban.  Though it's not unusual for burn bans to be implemented this time of year, and the City of Plano is urging residents to be aware of these restrictions to keep themselves and their property safe.

From the City of Plano:

On July 30, the unincorporated areas of Collin County were officially put under a burn ban because of the increased risk for grassfires due to worsening drought conditions and low humidity. Plano Fire Marshal David Kerr says, “Plano prohibits burning of trash and brush piles which is typically allowed in rural areas. The Plano Fire Department has responded to 20 grass and fence fires in the past two months.”

The county burn ban will be in effect for the next 90 days or until Collin County rescinds the ban. In the meantime, residents are reminded that a permit is required to use the burn rings in Plano parks. Outdoor cooking is still allowed in the parks but only on grills that have lids.

An unrelated yet serious fire risk is caused by grilling in multifamily complexes. Each year during the summer months, the Plano Fire Department responds to several apartment or multifamily complex fires. To help counter this danger, the 2009 International Fire Code has been adopted by the City of Plano. The code does not allow cooking on multifamily porches or balconies or within 10 feet of combustible construction unless it is protected by an automatic fire sprinkler system. The city also restricts the storage of grills on unprotected porches or balconies or within 10 feet of combustible construction.

For more information on burn bans and fire safety, please click here to visit the Plano Fire Department website.