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Burn ban season: what a county burn ban means for your fireplace, and what to do while you wait

Hill Country counties issue burn bans in dry years. What they cover, why a screened cap is not permission to burn, and why a ban is the best time to get the chimney fixed.

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September 12, 2026 · 3 min read · World of Chimney

Every dry autumn, one Hill Country county after another issues a burn ban. Most bans cover outdoor burning, some reach indoor fireplaces and stoves, and the wording changes from county to county and week to week. Before you light a fire, check what is in effect for your address.

Check the authority for your address

County restrictions, city rules and the order in effect can differ. Read the current order on the county website or call the fire marshal if you are unsure how it applies to an indoor fireplace. The Texas A&M Forest Service keeps a statewide map of active burn bans.

A cap is not permission to burn

A spark arrestor screen on the chimney cap catches embers, and every chimney should have one. It does not override a burn restriction. A damaged or missing screen is a repair to make now, not a reason to argue with the order.

Do not test a suspect flue with a fire

If the chimney has not been inspected this year, or smoke came back into the room last season, do not light a fire to see what happens. Book the inspection and resolve the finding first. A chimney fire in a dry year is exactly what the ban exists to prevent.

Why a ban is the best time to fix the chimney

Nobody is lighting fires, the calendar is open, and repairs that need the flue cold, crown work, relining, firebox repointing, can be done without waiting for a warm week. When the ban lifts, the fireplace is ready.

Free chimney inspection with photos across Marble Falls, Georgetown, Leander, Lakeway and the Hill Country. Call (737) 287-1234 or book online. Chimney Cap & Crown.

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