Galveston County Judge Mark Henry Wednesday signed an order prohibiting outdoor burning on Bolivar Peninsula due to below-normal rainfall and a continuing wildfire threat.
The outdoor burn ban, which remains in effect for 90 days unless the Galveston County Commissioners Court lifts the restriction before then, was requested by the High Island Volunteer Fire Department with the support of the Crystal Beach and Port Bolivar fire departments (also located on the peninsula).
Several recent wildfires on the peninsula have been difficult for firefighters to reach and have threatened local residences and businesses, according to the High Island VFD.
National Weather Service data indicates that, while mainland Galveston County has received significant rainfall in recent weeks, the peninsula is lagging behind. The NWS has forecast a warmer, drier winter for Texas and the South in general. Cold, dry air that follows a frontal system can dry out marsh grasses in just a few hours after rainfall, according to the Texas Forest Service.
The County’s burn ban does not affect unincorporated areas on the mainland. Additionally, the county has no authority to restrict outdoor burning in incorporated areas.

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