Burn ban flag flies at Depot

County residents may have noticed a bright red flag flying at the Albany Visitor Center.

The new banner signals whether the Shackelford County Commissioners have enacted the county-wide burn ban. It will be flown continuously until the ban is deactivated.

New AgriLife extension agent Michaela Bradford is in charge of making sure the flag is flown at the correct times.

The Texas A&M Forest Service and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension are in partnership for the effort, Bradford said.

Highway signs and a post on the county’s website also state whether the burn ban is active, but there is often a delay in getting those amended quickly.

“The flag should be easy to get changed and will also be a more visible reminder that a burn ban is on,” said Bradford.

The commissioners activate the burn ban whenever conditions are dry and wildfires could easily occur. 

No outdoor fires are allowed during those times in unincorporated portions of the county without specific permission from the county judge.

Even when there is no ban, residents should notify the sheriff’s office if they plan to burn anything more than household trash.