Outdoor burning: What to know before you light the match

When can you burn outdoors?

Check with your city and county about burn bans and local rules for outdoor fires. The Texas A&M Forest Service’s map lists county burn bans.

Statewide, Texas limits outdoor burning to:
- Campfires, bonfires, fire pits, and cooking fires.
- Household trash fires on your home property and only if you don’t have trash pickup.
Keep your fire from spreading
- If your city and county allow outdoor burns, put trash, grass, leaves, and branch trimmings in a burn barrel or container. Top it with a screen or metal grid.
- Don’t burn on dry, windy days.
- Stay by your fire until it’s out.
- Keep water, shovel, and a rake handy in case the fire starts to spread.
Don’t burn these items
- Aerosol cans or anything that could explode.
- Electrical insulation.
- Building / construction materials including treated lumber.
- Plastics and asphalt-based materials.
If you see a dangerous fire, call local law enforcement. You may also call the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s Environmental Complaint Hotline at 888-777-3186.

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