Just in time for the Hopkins County Stew Contest, County Judge Robert Newsom has lifted the county burn ban. Rainfall Thursday night and Friday provided the basis of the judge’s decision signed at 4 p.m. Friday, October 23.
Monday morning October 12, during Hopkins County Commissioners’ Court, the commissioners had agreed with County Judge Robert Newsom who had issued an emergency burn ban during the prior week. In a 4-0 vote, commissioners voted to prohibit all outdoor burning in unincorporated areas of the county for 90 days. The ban did not include outdoor burning activities related to public health and safety that are authorized by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for firefighter training; public utility, natural gas pipeline or mining operations; stated funded road projects with a plan of action on file; commercial welding projects with a plan of action on file; small fires for cooking in established contests sanctioned by Hopkins County or a municipal body with proper plan filed with the fire marshal’s office.
