City and county officials say this is due to a county-wide burn ban that will stay in place for 90 days or until conditions improve.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — What you can expect to see on the beach this Labor Day weekend? Lots of people. But what you won’t see are bonfires.
After several recent fires in the area, Nueces County implemented a county-wide burn ban for all unincorporated areas just ten days ago.
CCFD and Nueces County Coastal Parks indicated that it’s important for everyone to follow proper safety guidelines and keep in mind that if you don’t follow the rules, it could cost you.
“Conditions are dry, it’s very easy for a fire to spread quickly, and sometimes it can happen so fast that we don’t have the resources in place right in that moment, so we want to try to avoid that so we’re asking for everybody’s help with this,” CCFD Assistant Chief Tony Perez said.
Perez explained why Nueces County decided to bring back the burn ban after five months.
“Being a holiday weekend, Labor Day weekend, an increased number of people are on the beach. So it’s not just for, you might think of for yourself, but for the people around you, the community out on the beaches as well. We want to make sure that everybody’s safe. We want you to have a great time on this Labor Day weekend, but we want you to do it safely,” Perez said.
Director of Nueces County Coastal Parks Scott Cross stressed the risks that beach bonfires can bring if not handled properly.
“There are restrictions to them. They’re supposed to be like a 3 by 3 and the coals are supposed to be extinguished completely before they leave. The issue with not doing that is when people just throw sand lightly over it. I’ve seen too many times little kids come in here with the bottom of the foot burnt up because they step on these hot coals,” Cross said.
If you decide to cook this weekend, Perez emphasized that it’s best to have a metal container on hand instead of a plastic one to discard coals, as these could stay hot and reignite.
Additionally, if you’re barbecuing at the beach, Perez said that it’s key to “have a plan for discarding those coals after you’ve cooked, and then just have some water that would be nearby if you are going to be cooking that if something did happen and it was out of hand, you’d have some water to extinguish it.”
Aside from keeping an eye out for rip currents and dry conditions, Scott urged folks that when packing your beach bag, it’s important to remember other safety measures as well.
“No glass containers. No bonfires or campfires, whatever you want to call them, and watch your speed, because the kids aren’t paying attention. They get out there, it’s a free for all as soon as they hit that beach. They got a beach ball or whatever and it blows towards the drive way, they’re going to run out there and get it,” Cross said.
City and county officials said the burn ban will stay in place for 90 days or until conditions improve.
Violating the ban could mean getting a ticket or a fine of up to $500. So this Labor Day weekend, county leaders are encouraging folks to find other ways to celebrate safely.