Updated throughout – 4 p.m., Oct. 20
Henderson County Commissioners’ Court extended the current burn ban one week Tuesday morning.
Fire Marshal Shane Renberg told commissioners the county’s current average Keetch-Byram Drought Index score is 732 and the worst area is 781. The KBDI is a measure of moisture in the soil, and a burn ban is recommended when the KBDI score is above 575.
“The scale only goes up to 800,” he told commissioners.
Renberg said the grass fires were “getting out of control fast.” Tuesday afternoon, firefighters from five department fought a 25-acre fire in Brownsboro.
Despite the rain in the weather forecast, Renberg said the fire danger remains high.
Commissioners decided to revisit the ban next week partly because of the rain in the forecast and partly to be able to remind residents of the fire danger.
Ignoring the burn ban is a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to $500.