Comal County on Friday extended its disaster declaration due to drought.
The region has experienced low humidity, dry conditions, and no rain, which all increase the risk for fire.
The declaration bans the use of activities that utilize combustible materials unless it has been approved by the county fire marshal. Barbeque pits are permitted as long as they are elevated off the ground and have a lid that closes. Grill masters are urged to saturate the ground and to keep extinguishers on hand.
An outdoor burn ban was issued in Comal County in August and remains in effect.
The extension came days after Comal County Judge Sherman Krause first issued the declaration.
Drought conditions have worsened again this last quarter of the year for much of the region after some improvement earlier. The U.S. Drought Monitor reported western Comal County and virtually all of Kendall and Bandera counties have some of the worst drought conditions in the nation, rated as "extreme."
Northwest Bexar County was also rated with extreme drought conditions, while the rest of the county was rated with "moderate" drought conditions.
San Antonio International Airport has only recorded a little more than 21 inches of rain since Jan. 1. That is nearly half a foot below the year-to-date average for the airport.
The National Weather Service reported no major precipitation was in the forecast through the end of the month, but the city usually sees a strong cold front blow in around Halloween.
It will take a strong front colliding with warm South Texas air to generate showers, something that could occur more frequently as fall transitions to winter.
Marian Navarro contributed to this report.
