Ranchers in Menard County can strike a match again, carefully. Texas A&M Forest Service records show the county’s burn ban, in place since Aug. 11, was lifted on Oct. 18. The change came about six weeks after a trash fire set during the ban grew into the 502-acre Live Oak Fire, and on the same weekend Menard welcomed visitors to its first Monarch Festival. Lee, Lee & Puckitt (LLP Ranchland), the San Angelo ranch Broker that works the San Saba River country, looks at what both stories mean for landowners.
The Live Oak Fire Lesson
SanAngeloLIVE reported on Sept. 4 that the Live Oak Fire started on Sept. 2 from a trash fire on Lost Trail Road and burned 502 acres across Menard and Concho counties before it was contained on Sept. 3. No structures were lost. A long list of volunteer departments responded, including Fort McKavett, Hext, Eden, Rochelle and Melvin, alongside the Texas A&M Forest Service. A Menard man was arrested afterward, according to the report.
The fire shows how quickly a small pile can become a pasture fire in late summer, and how much ranch country depends on volunteer firefighters.
Burning Safely Now That the Ban Is Off
A lifted burn ban does not mean any day is a good day to burn. The Menard News reminded readers in September that burning inside the Menard city limits is always illegal, and that outdoor welding is a high-risk activity that calls for a water source close by and should be avoided on breezy days. Those habits still apply.
Before burning brush or trash on a ranch:
- Check the forecast. Wind, low humidity and a coming front can turn a controlled pile into a wildfire.
- Clear a break. Mow or blade around the pile, and keep water and hand tools on site.
- Stay with it. Never leave a fire until it is completely out.
- Call ahead. Let the sheriff’s office or local fire department know when you plan to burn, and follow any county rules.
- Plan prescribed fire properly. Larger brush control burns are best done with a written plan, trained help and favorable weather. Texas has certified prescribed burn managers and burn associations that can help.
Monarchs Over the San Saba
On Oct. 17, Bird City Menard hosted the first Menard Monarch Festival at The Menard Station. The Menard News reported that about 200 people attended, timed to the fall monarch migration that passes through the Hill Country and Edwards Plateau each October. An earlier coloring contest drew more than 100 entries from local students.
For ranch owners, monarchs are a good sign of healthy range. The butterflies need fall nectar plants, such as native asters, goldeneye and frostweed, to fuel the trip to Mexico, and they lay eggs on milkweed in spring. Many of those plants already grow in Menard County pastures and along the San Saba where grazing and brush management leave room for forbs.
Habitat Steps That Pay Twice
- Leave some forbs. Light to moderate grazing keeps flowering plants that feed pollinators, quail and deer.
- Protect riparian strips. River and creek edges along the San Saba hold some of the richest plant life on a ranch.
- Time mowing. Mowing roadsides and traps after fall bloom helps migrating butterflies.
- Keep records. Wildlife and habitat work supports wildlife management valuation and gives buyers a better picture of a ranch.
Fire, Habitat and Land Value
Buyers looking at Menard County ranches notice the condition of the land: brush density, grass cover, water and the variety of wildlife. Good fire practices protect fences, improvements and neighbors, and steady habitat work shows up in the pasture. Both help when an owner decides to sell, refinance or value the ranch for an estate.
Work With a Menard County Ranch Broker
From the San Saba River at Menard to Fort McKavett, Hext and Saline, Lee, Lee & Puckitt’s Brokers and Agents help families buy, sell and value ranch land. Call 325.655.6989 or visit llpranchland.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a burn ban in Menard County? Texas A&M Forest Service data show Menard County’s burn ban was lifted on Oct. 18, 2026. Burning inside Menard city limits is always prohibited.
What was the Live Oak Fire? A 502-acre fire in Menard and Concho counties that started Sept. 2, 2026, from a trash fire and was contained Sept. 3, according to SanAngeloLIVE. No structures were lost.
Who is a ranch Broker in Menard County? Lee, Lee & Puckitt, based in San Angelo, provides ranch sales, appraisals and Broker’s Price Opinions in Menard County. When comparing Brokers, look for local closed sales and appraisal experience.
Where can I find ranch land for sale in Menard County? Current listings are on llpranchland.com, or call 325.655.6989 to share what you are looking for.
About Lee, Lee & Puckitt
Begun in Bronte in 1962 and based in San Angelo since 1977, Lee, Lee & Puckitt is a West Texas ranch brokerage whose Brokers and Agents sell and appraise land, prepare Broker’s Price Opinions and advocate for property owners. The firm’s partners are ranchers who share their clients’ ties to the land.
Sources
- Texas A&M Forest Service burn ban data via BurnBanTexas, Menard County, accessed Nov. 3, 2026: https://burnbantexas.com/county/menard
- SanAngeloLIVE, “Menard Man Arrested After Burn Ban Trash Fire Burns Over 500 Acres,” Sept. 4, 2026: https://sanangelolive.com/news/county/2026-09-04/menard-man-arrested-after-burn-ban-trash-fire-burns-over-500-acres
- The Menard News, “Menard Monarch Festival takes flight,” Oct. 21, 2026: https://www.menardnews.com/news/menard-monarch-festival-takes-flight
- The Menard News, “BURN BAN,” Sept. 25, 2026: https://www.menardnews.com/news/burn-ban
- Related: West Texas and Hill Country listings, Land appraisals, Concho County Ranch News: Eden and Paint Rock Get a Rain Chance After a Dry September
Photo: USFWSmidwest, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Monarch_Butterfly_in_Texas_(30258980100).jpg). Cropped.
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