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Texas Conditions Spark Wildfire Risk

AMARILLO – The grass is high and drying down, the winds are blowing, and unusual lightning storms are taking place – conditions are right and all it will take is a spark to set off a repeat of the 2006 wildfire season, Texas Cooperative Extension officials say.

"It’s setting up to be that kind of year again," said Dr. Wayne Hanselka, professor and Extension range specialist in Corpus Christi. "We’ve had so much rain, a lot of moisture, and have grown a lot of grass."

He said due to drought conditions, some areas don’t have that many cows grazing, which has left a lot of dry grass or fuel standing in pastures.

"If it turns off dry or with an early frost, it is setting us up to have another fire season like we had in 2006 and 2007," Hanselka said.

Dr. Ted McCollum, Extension beef cattle specialist in Amarillo, agreed.

"It might be time for ranchers to make sure their fire-suppression equipment is working and the tanks are full of water," McCollum said.

Already, he said, the Panhandle and South Plains area have seen a number of fires touched off by lightning this fall, which is a little unusual. A fire on Oct. 18 burned more than 20,000 acres of grassland in Deaf Smith County.

Andy Vestal, Extension agriculture education specialist, said major fires were reported in Hall, McCulloch and Llano counties on Oct. 18 to the State Operation Center of the Governor’s Division of Emergency Management. All were contained by local responders.

"I would say West Texas will be one of the earlier hot spots because of the wind velocity there," Vestal said. "The wind dries things out a lot faster."

"One of our big issues around here is CRP (Conservation Reserve Program) fields that aren’t grazed," McCollum said. "They have a lot of biomass built up on them. Once one of them gets torched off, you have problems."

The National Weather Service has issued a fire weather watch for several areas of Texas on Oct. 20 because temperatures are expected to climb back into the upper 80s and afternoon humidity is expected to drop.

This combination of conditions has led to increased fire weather concerns across Oklahoma and portions of western North Texas, as well as eastern New Mexico and across the Texas Panhandle, according to weather service reports.

Both McCollum and Hanselka said prevention is the best measure for homeowners and ranchers to consider at this time.

The Texas Forest Service advises wildfires are not just a problem for rural homeowners and ranchers, adding that during the last two years, 85 percent of the wildfires in Texas have occurred within two miles of a community.

Texas Forest Service officials warned wildfire can strike home unless some steps are taken to protect homes and property. They offered to following tips to lessen the threat of wildfire damage:

– Propane tanks should be far enough away from buildings for valves to be shut off in case of fire. Keep area around the tank clear of flammable vegetation.

– Store gasoline in an approved safety can away from occupied buildings.

– Clear roof surfaces and gutters regularly to avoid build-up of flammable materials such as leaves and other debris.

– In rural areas, clear a fire break of at least three times the fuel length around all structures.

– Have fire tools handy such as: ladder long enough to reach the roof, shovel, rake and a bucket or two for water.

– Place connected garden hoses at all sides of the home for emergency use.

– Know all emergency exits from the home and neighborhood.

– Create a defensible space of at least 30 feet around your house and outbuildings; closely mow lawns and trees should be pruned and spaced widely apart.

– Establish fuel breaks along roadways and between buildings and fields or woodlands.

– Keep mufflers and spark arresters on agricultural equipment in proper working order and watch out for rocks and metal when bush hogging or mowing.

– Monitor hay-baling operations closely, dry hay can ignite within the baler.

– Watch out for sparks when using welding equipment to build fences or repair equipment.

– Avoid driving or parking vehicles in grassy areas where tall, dry grass comes into contact with hot pollution control equipment under vehicles.

– When debris burning is allowed, establish wide control lines down to bare mineral soil prior to lighting your fire.

– Burn trash in a burn barrel or other fire-safe receptacle covered with a wire mesh or grid that will help contain burning debris. Stay with the fire until it is out.

– Make onsite arrangements for removal of livestock and protection for feeders, pens, fences, oil and gas structures, wells, windmills, stored hay, barns and other structures.

– Refresh or implement firebreaks.

More information and tips can be found at:

http://texashelp.tamu.edu/004-natural/fires.php ,

http://texasforestservice.tamu.edu or

http://agnews.tamu.edu/issues/fire .

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