----------   UPDATE   ----------

UPDATED - 06.26.26

Additional East Texas counties have enacted burn bans for their counties for at least the next 7 days.  Titus, Camp, Harrison, Houston, and Tyler counties have enacted burn bans.

The full list of East Texas counties that are currently under burn bans is below.  The map of current burn bans from Texas A&M Forest Service is dated 02.25.26.

----------   UPDATE   ----------

UPDATED - 02.25.26

Just like Texas weather, wait a minute, and it will change.  However, that's not the case right now.  East Texans and Texans are praying for a change in the weather pattern and for rain.  Texas needs rain to alleviate the current drought conditions.

When this article was created, there were 159 Texas counties under burn bans.  Just a few hours later, that number jumped to 172 counties, 17 of which are in East Texas.

The updated list of East Texas counties under a burn ban is below.  Tap any county name to view the official burn ban or county statement.

----------   ORIGINAL ARTICLE  ----------

(East Texas) Of the 254 counties that make up the great state of Texas, 159 are currently under burn bans. That number is likely to increase over the next couple of weeks as drought conditions are expected to worsen somewhat.

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Why Burn Bans Are Increasing Across Texas

The unusually warm and dry winter weather continues to linger throughout the state. Although portions of East Texas recently received an inch of rain, it was not enough to combat the dry conditions that exist. Low humidity and brisk winds continue to dry out the vegetation, creating extremely dry conditions.

Outdoor burning of any kind is highly discouraged. The number of active burn bans in East Texas continues to grow due to a lack of predicted rainfall, along with windy and dry conditions.

East Texas Counties Currently Under Burn Bans

The following East Texas counties are currently under a burn ban:

East Texas burn ban map February 25, 2026
Texas A&M Forest Service
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Other counties around East Texas that have enacted burn bans:

  • Bowie County
  • Fannin County
  • Freestone County
  • Leon County
  • Madison County
  • Navarro County
  • Red River County
  • Walker County

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Penalties for Violating a Texas Burn Ban

Violating a county burn ban in Texas is considered a class C misdemeanor, which can result in a $500 fine up to $2,500 and an 11-month jail sentence.

What Activities Are Still Allowed During a Burn Ban

In most cases, it is still legal to use backyard grills, but their use must be closely monitored. You will need to have a way to extinguish a fire should one ignite around the grill. Burning of brush or trash is strictly prohibited.

The Texas A&M Forest Service updates the Texas Burn Ban map once a week based upon information from local county governments. The outlook for drought conditions to improve does not appear likely anytime soon. More burn bans will likely be activated across East Texas before Spring arrives.

Texas burn ban map February 25, 2026
Texas A&M Forest Service
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Where to Check the Latest Burn Ban Map

You can check the current wildfire status, fire danger, wildfire risk, and drought conditions on the Texas A&M Forest Service website. Let's hope spring brings an ample supply of rain, as we all could use it.

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