Record 236 Texas Counties Ban Outdoor Burning

July 1, 2011

The record number of Texas counties with outdoor burn bans has reached 236 as the drought continues.

A Texas Forest Service map Thursday showed southern and northeast parts of the state as the only areas without burn bans. Texas has 254 counties.

Texas in January 2006 had a record 221 counties with outdoor burn bans, but that mark was broken earlier this month during wildfires and lingering dry weather.

The Texas Forest Service says nearly 3.3 million acres have burned during the current wildfires season.

Agency officials are urging caution during the Fourth of July holiday weekend and use of fireworks.