Deluge snuffs out burn ban before it's 'official'
By BENJAMIN C. SHARP bensharp@journal-spectator.com

Staff Photo by Benjamin Sharp City workers Jerry Zuber, left, and Ricky Guzman, right, pile leaves into the bed of their pickup while clearing a storm drain at the corner of Walnut and Alabama streets.

Wharton County fell under an outdoor burn ban this week - but it lasted less than 24 hours.

A deluge of rain Monday afternoon and evening canceled out the ban before it was ever announced to the public.

"We are not going to have one now," said county emergency management coordinator Andy Kirkland on Tuesday.

Kirkland's office contacted area media outlets, law enforcement agencies and government officials via e-mail Monday morning announcing a ban would be instituted this week.

The ban was due to take effect at 12:01 a.m. Thursday - which would give the Journal-Spectator and Leader- News (which are published on Wednesday) a chance to notify the public.

Bans are automatically issued when the county's Keetch-Byram Drought Index average hits 500 or greater.

The KBDI measures the fire susceptibility of a particular area.

Each area is provided its own index value, and an average, or "mean" value is also instituted for the county as a whole.

On Monday, Wharton County's average KBDI was 505.

Just a few hours later, however, the skies opened up and saturated the area with rain.

Between three and six inches were reported across the county, with Wharton receiving 3.29 inches.

Neighboring areas received even more. Colorado County, for example, got about six inches. Lavaca County received nearly 10.

"It was quite a good rainfall and we needed it," Kirkland said.

The rain was something of a surprise.

Kirkland said it was spawned by a cool front that was initially not expected to make it down this far.

In Wharton, the rain fell quickly, briefly flooding streets that had blocked storm drains. City employees were called out to unplug those outlets.

No significant flooding was reported, though. There were no reports of damage, either.

Kirkland said the rain should have a beneficial effect on the area, particularly with dry grass.

County fire departments have responded to several grass fires in the last few days.

"We had a lot of fuel. It was dry. Hopefully, this will put some moisture back in the ground," Kirkland said.

Though the KBDI on Tuesday morning still remained above 500, Kirkland said the added moisture should drop the value below 500 by today.