By Scott Harvey
Sulphur Springs – Hopkins County Judge Chris Brown has authorized a disaster declaration for the county, citing the recent lack of rainfall and dry conditions.
Judge Brown signed the proclamation Tuesday, for the purpose of implementing controls aimed at mitigating threats posed by wildfires during the current dry weather.
The news comes as several area counties are considering or have already implemented burn bans to prevent the possible spread of fire. Northeast Texas is slowly approaching the highest level of drought on the Keetch-Byram Drought Index, which has been in place in a majority of West and Southeast Texas for the past several weeks.