Collin County's mandatory outdoor burn ban is in effect as the Dallas-Fort Worth area's 46-day rainless streak ties for the area's 10th-longest on record.

The Collin County Commissioners Court approved the ban at its Aug. 24 meeting, and it took effect Aug. 25, Community Impact Newspaper reported.

The ban covers unincorporated areas of the county and prohibits all outdoor burning. Hot work such as welding is also restricted.

Allen is an incorporated city, so specific rules may differ. The county's notice encourages residents in incorporated areas to check with local officials for guidance. Nearby Fairview posted a town notice Aug. 26 detailing burn-ban rules, referencing the Collin County Fire Marshal's ban. That notice bans brush burning, outdoor fire pits and containers of any size.

Propane grills and propane fire pits remain allowed because they do not release embers. Private home-type barbecue grills are also permitted.

The drought driving the ban is severe by any measure. Aug. 30 marked the DFW area's 46th consecutive day with only trace amounts of rain, based on readings from the official climate site at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.

The National Weather Service said the streak is tied for the area's 10th-longest without measurable precipitation on record. Forecasters expect 2026 to become only the seventh year to record just trace rainfall for all of August.

Statewide, 204 of Texas' 254 counties were under a burn ban as of Aug. 31, according to data from the Texas A&M Forest Service.

The Ross fire, which started Aug. 24 in Palo Pinto County roughly two hours west of Dallas-Fort Worth, had burned at least 90,048 acres across Palo Pinto and Jack counties as of Wednesday, Sept. 2, CBS Texas reported.

The blaze has destroyed 157 structures and damaged 140 more. The National Weather Service has called it the second-largest wildfire in North Texas history.

The National Weather Service advises residents not to leave any fire unattended, not to toss lit cigarettes and not to drive over tall grass, the Dallas Morning News reported. Drought conditions are expected to worsen, according to the weather service's forecast.

Exceptions to the Collin County ban include firefighter training, public utility and natural gas pipeline operations, and burns conducted by a prescribed burn manager. The ban remains in place until the commissioners court lifts it once drought conditions subside. No scheduled review date has been announced.

Allen residents seeking city-specific guidance should contact the Allen Fire Department.