CRANE COUNTY, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) – The Commissioners Court issued a 90-day burn ban for all unincorporated areas of the County on Tuesday. This comes after the National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning for much of West Texas and Southeastern New Mexico due to warm temperatures, low humidity, and strong winds in the area.

The ban does not include activities related to public health and safety and are authorized by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, including firefighter training, public utility, natural gas pipeline or mining operations, planting or harvesting of agricultural crops, or burns that are conducted by a certified prescribed burn manager.

This ban also doesn’t include the burning of household trash in containers covered by metal grating, outdoor cooking in proper pits and grills, or other outdoor burning activities or lifting of burn bans as permitted by the Crane County Judge or Crane County Fire Marshall at his discretion.

Crane County said the violation of this ban could result in a class C misdemeanor and a fine of up to $500.