Bexar County, TX Fire Regulations: Wildfire Zones (2026)
Key Facts
- Risk hotspots
- West/North Bexar, Hill Country edge
- Burn bans
- Common during summer drought
- Firewise communities
- Helotes, Grey Forest active
- Authority
- Bexar County Fire Marshal
Summary
The Texas A&M Forest Service maps parts of western and northern Bexar County, including Helotes, Leon Springs, and Camp Bullis edges, as wildland-urban interface with elevated wildfire risk during drought cycles.
Sec. 352.081. REGULATION OF OUTDOOR BURNING. (a) In this section, "drought conditions" means the existence of a long-term deficit of moisture creating atypically severe conditions with increased wildfire occurrence as defined by the Texas Forest Service through the use of the Keetch-Byram Drought Index or, when that index is not available, through the use of a comparable measurement that takes into consideration the burning index, spread component, or ignition component for the particular area.(b) On the request of the commissioners court of a county, the Texas Forest Service shall determine whether drought conditions exist in all or part of the county. The Texas Forest Service shall make available the measurement index guidelines that
Full Breakdown
Bexar County lies at the eastern edge of the Texas Hill Country and the cedar-oak brush of the Edwards Plateau. The Texas A&M Forest Service Texas Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal flags western Bexar communities including Helotes, Grey Forest, Scenic Oaks, Leon Springs, and the wildland interface around Camp Bullis and Government Canyon State Natural Area as moderate to high wildfire risk, particularly in drought years. There is no countywide defensible-space ordinance, but Bexar County commissioners can enact burn bans under Texas Local Government Code 352.081 when drought indices rise, and those bans are frequent in summer. Communities such as Helotes have participated in Firewise USA programs promoting voluntary 30-foot defensible space, Class A roofing, and ember-resistant venting. The San Antonio Fire Department and Bexar County Fire Marshal respond in wildland interface areas. Homeowners in these zones should clear dry vegetation, maintain driveways wide enough for fire apparatus, and post legible address numbers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is defensible space required by law?
How do I check current burn ban status?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bexar County
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Bexar County to another location·View the Texas fire regulations overview
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