Texas Porch

Wildfire / Fire safety

Wildfire Risk and Burn Bans in Briscoe County

The Texas Panhandle, including Briscoe County, sees some of the state's highest wildfire risk, especially during dry winters and springs — and the county commissioners court can issue outdoor burn bans that make it illegal to burn on your property.

Briscoe County Rules & Licenses

Briscoe County sits in the southern Panhandle, where dry winds, low humidity, and drought-stressed grass combine to create serious wildfire conditions in some years. The Texas A&M Forest Service monitors fire danger statewide using weather stations and seasonal fuel conditions, and publishes fire danger maps updated weekly.

When conditions are dangerous, the county judge or commissioners court can issue an outdoor burn ban under Texas Local Government Code 352.081. A burn ban restricts or prohibits open burning across the entire county. Briscoe County has issued burn bans in the past — the county website has posted official burn ban notices. Violating a burn ban can result in fines.

Before burning brush, debris, or pasture on your property, check the current burn ban status. The Texas A&M Forest Service posts a statewide burn ban map at tfsweb.tamu.edu. You can also call the Briscoe County Courthouse at 806-823-2131. Even when no burn ban is in effect, check local wind and humidity conditions — liability for escaped fire falls on the person who started it.

Source to confirm: Texas A&M Forest Service — Burn Bans & Information

More Briscoe County notes

Property tax

How the Briscoe County Appraisal District Works

The Briscoe County Appraisal District appraises all property in the county, while a separate tax assessor-collector handles billing and collection — and you can lower your tax bill with a homestead exemption if this is your primary residence.

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Agricultural appraisal

Ag Valuation: How Farmland Gets Taxed in Briscoe County

Most working farmland and ranch land in Briscoe County can be taxed on what the land produces, not what it would sell for. This can cut the property tax bill significantly.

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Water / Groundwater

The Ogallala Aquifer: Briscoe County's Underground Water Supply

Nearly all water in Briscoe County — for homes, farms, and livestock — comes from the Ogallala Aquifer. This underground water supply has been dropping for decades because pumping outpaces natural refill.

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State park / Wildlife

Caprock Canyons State Park: Canyons, Bison, and Dark Skies

Caprock Canyons State Park in Quitaque sits along the eastern edge of the High Plains and is home to the official Texas State Bison Herd, nearly 90 miles of trails, a designated Dark Sky area, and a bat colony in a historic railroad tunnel.

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