Dallas County is under a burn ban through Sept. 25 as extreme heat and dry vegetation continue raising wildfire concerns across North Texas.

The City of Dallas warned Friday that the countywide ban prohibits all outdoor burning while current conditions make fires easier to ignite and spread.

That means no burning trash, brush, leaves or other outdoor debris through late September.

“Negligent equipment use and careless debris burning account for 50% of wildfires in Texas,” the city said, citing the Texas A&M Forest Service.

Grilling is generally still allowed in enclosed cooking appliances, but Dallas officials warned residents to be cautious with charcoal and propane grills, especially on hot, dry or windy days. They also urged people to avoid activities that could throw sparks into dry vegetation, including welding, grinding and unsecured tow chains.

The warning comes just days after the Ross Fire exploded across more than 78 square miles of ranchland west of Fort Worth in less than a day, fueled by extreme heat, dry conditions and strong winds. Evacuations were ordered, schools closed and structures were destroyed as firefighters struggled to contain the blaze.

“We’ve thrown everything at this, and we’re still having minimal effect,” Palo Pinto County Fire Chief Danny Watkins said Tuesday as the fire continued spreading.

Officials also noted fires have been popping up across the South and West in recent days as extremely dry conditions persist. For Dallas residents then, the immediate takeaway is simple: outdoor burning remains off limits until Sept. 25 unless officials lift or change the restriction sooner.

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This article originally published at North Texas wildfire danger prompts weeks-long Dallas County burn ban.