Wharton County officials are urging residents to put safety first this holiday week as dry conditions worsen across the area. The county has issued an outdoor burn ban after drought levels climbed into the high-risk range. The ban takes effect at 12:01 Christmas morning, and will remain in place until further notice. Officials say the dry weather makes fires spread quickly and unpredictably, increasing the risk to homes, land, and first responders across Wharton County.