LIST: East Texas Burn Bans Remain a Concern as Dry Conditions Return

EAST TEXAS (TXAN 24) — As of September 7, 2026, counties currently reporting burn restrictions include:

• Rains County

• Hopkins County

• Franklin County

• Wood County

• Gregg County

• San Augustine County

• Smith County

• Sabine County

• Cass County

• Harrison County

• Anderson County

• Henderson County

• Houston County

• Trinity County

• Nacogdoches County

• Van Zandt County

• Upshur County

• Cherokee County

• Rusk County

• Morris County

• Panola County

• Shelby County

Several counties that had restrictions earlier have since lifted them following recent rainfall, including Angelina, Polk, Jasper and Tyler counties.

The big thing is don’t assume the rain means the fire danger is gone. Tropical Depression Edouard brought some much-needed rainfall to parts of East Texas last week. Groveton, for example, recorded roughly 8.5 inches in about 12 hours. But the rain was uneven, and much of the region is still dealing with dry fuels and high temperatures.

Texas A&M Forest Service says fire potential remains high across much of North, Central and East Texas, with critically dry grasses, brush and timber capable of igniting quickly. The agency says nine out of 10 Texas wildfires are human-caused.

And this is important: a burn ban is a county decision. County judges and commissioners’ courts have the authority to restrict outdoor burning, so residents need to check their own county rather than relying on what is happening next door.

If you’re cleaning up your property, burning brush, working with equipment or getting ready for hunting season, check the burn-ban status first.

A dry field, a gust of wind and one spark can turn what looks like a small controlled fire into something firefighters have to chase.

And with hunting season getting underway, the Forest Service is also warning hunters about equipment, vehicles, trailers and ATVs/UTVs around dry vegetation.