Thanks to this summer's lack of rain and extreme heat, several Houston-area counties are issuing outdoor burn bans.
As of Thursday, burn bans have been issued in Polk, Liberty, Wharton and Colorado counties.
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The hot and dry conditions increase the risk of wildfires.
In most areas, the burn ban means no outdoor grilling, trash burning, campfires and fireworks.
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Outdoor cigarettes and cigar smoking is prohibited in Colorado County unless the ashes are deposited into a receptacle known to extinguish combustion.
Burn ban exceptions in Colorado County include burning household trash in an enclosed receptacle covered with a mesh material, barbecuing, agricultural controlled burns, and instances authorized by the TCEQ.