County okays new burn ban in rural areas

Citing dry conditions, and an increase in grass and brush fires, Milam County commissioners on Thursday imposed an outdoor burn ban on rural areas of the county.

(Municipalities in the county, including Rockdale, have their own, permanent, outdoor burning bans.)

County Judge Steve Young said Milam fire chiefs, including Ward Roddam of Rockdale and Henry Horelica of Cameron, had asked for the ban.

During the past week, Milam volunteer fire departments responded to eight brush and grass fire calls.

The ban went into effect at noon Thursday. By 7:36 p.m. that day the sheriff’s office had already responded to a reported violation.