JASPER, Texas — Jasper County Judge Mark W. Allen declared a renewal of a local state of disaster and banned outdoor burning due to severe drought conditions threatening public safety across the Southeast Texas county.

The declaration, issued Oct. 14, prohibits all outdoor burning including trash, brush, trees, storm debris, construction materials and open campfires for up to seven days. The ban takes effect immediately and will remain in place unless the Jasper County Commissioners Court extends or renews it, or until Allen rescinds the order if the area receives sufficient rainfall.

Allen issued the disaster declaration under Section 418.108(a) of the Texas Government Code, which allows county judges to declare local emergencies when extraordinary measures are needed to protect prope

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