Parker County judge Mark Riley has extended the county’s burn ban through 9 a.m. Friday, July 13.
The ban restricts all outdoor burning.
Violation of the burn ban is a Class C Misdemeanor and could result in a fine of up to $500 plus court costs. Violations include the use of combustible materials, including outdoor welding; however, where welding must be performed in the field, the following mitigating efforts will be in force until the burn ban has expired:
▪ All areas where welding, cutting or grinding operations are being performed will be free of vegetation for at least twenty five feet in all directions;
▪ Surface around welding area will be watered down;
▪ Wind speeds must be no more than 20 miles per hour while performing welding, cutting or grinding operations outside of barriers or enclosures;
▪ A dedicated fire watch person will attend each welder, cutter, grinder and any activity that causes a spark;
▪ A minimum of one (1) water pressure fire extinguisher per fire watch person is required;
▪ Each site will have cellular telephone communications for emergency response;
▪ All welding, cutting and grinding operations may be performed in a total welding enclosure, or “welding box”, that is sufficiently high to control sparks and includes a fire retardant cover over the top. Winds speeds must not exceed 30 miles per hour while utilizing an enclosure;
i. Where welding (above ground and sub-surface) is required in an area where there is a potential for a hazardous atmosphere, barriers will be substituted for total enclosures (e.g. “wind walls”) to prevent sparks from coming in contact with any combustible material;
ii. The barriers will be installed to allow ventilation of the work area and ingress and egress to the work area for personnel safety;
iii. Sub-surface, or “bell hole”, welding and grinding operations within approved excavations are allowed if all other mitigation efforts are included.
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