Denton County's Wildland Fire Disaster Declaration Has Been in Effect Since August 25

If you've got acreage outside city limits and a brush pile you've been meaning to clear, stop.

A Local Disaster Declaration addressing the wildland fire threat posed by dry conditions took effect August 25, 2026. It hasn't been lifted. That declaration carries real consequences.

The mandatory burn ban prohibits all outdoor burning and restricts outdoor hot work — welding, cutting torch operations, and the use of certain combustible materials. That's broader than most people expect. Welding in the pasture counts. Violating the county judge's executive-ordered burn ban is a criminal offense.

The conditions behind the declaration are genuine. High temperatures, high winds, low humidity, and dead or dormant vegetation have all raised the risk of large, destructive wildfires. Wildfire frequency has ticked up, and local fire capacity is stretched.

The burn ban continues until drought conditions are alleviated. No end date is scheduled. It lifts when the drought does.

The declaration applies to unincorporated Denton County. Flower Mound residents inside town limits fall under the town's own fire code. But plenty of people in southern Denton County own land that straddles that line, or hold property in unincorporated pockets near Argyle, Bartonville, or Trophy Club's outskirts. If you're unsure whether your parcel falls under the county declaration, confirm it before you fire up the torch.

Denton County's Community Wildfire Protection Plan identifies parcels where catastrophic wildfire could put lives and structures at serious risk, and outlines strategies to reduce that danger. An interactive map shows parcels flagged as potentially at higher risk of a catastrophic wildfire. If you own wooded land, it's worth a look at dentoncounty.gov.

To check the current declaration status and specific restrictions, visit dentoncounty.gov or contact the Denton County Emergency Management office at emergencymanagement@dentoncounty.gov. If you haven't signed up for county alerts, you can register for Denton County emergency notifications through the Everbridge system at dentoncounty.gov.