Cooke County commissioners vote 3-1 to lift burn ban

GAINESVILLE, Texas — Cooke County Commissioners voted 3-1 on Jan. 30 to temporarily lift the county's burn ban, giving residents a window to clear tree limbs and other debris left by recent winter weather. County Judge John Roane cast the lone dissenting vote. Commissioner Matt Sicking was absent from the meeting. Commissioner Jason Snuggs supported the temporary lift, noting the demand from residents dealing with storm damage. "There's people stuck at home that want to burn. We've got a lot of tree limbs and stuff down," Snuggs said. Snuggs acknowledged that requests to burn had outpaced concerns about icy road conditions. "I've had more calls about wanting to burn than I have about the roads," he said. Despite the temporary reprieve, Snuggs urged caution. "Everybody has to have extreme caution, because the fire trucks aren't going to get to you" if hazardous conditions persist, he warned. County officials indicated the burn ban would likely be reinstated at the next commissioners court meeting, as drought-like conditions are expected to return across Cooke County. Residents planning to burn should check current conditions and exercise caution, particularly near structures and roadways. For questions about the burn ban status, contact the Cooke County Judge's office or visit the county website at co.cooke.tx.us.