SEVERE DROUGHT CONDITIONS IN PORTIONS OF TEXAS CALL FOR INCREASED CAUTION OUTDOORS

  

Governor Greg Abbott has issued a state of disaster for several panhandle and south Texas counties, due to severe drought conditions.

Governor Abbott announced the state of disaster Friday in Hall, Randall, and Swisher Counties in the panhandle, and Duval, Jim Hogg, Webb, and Zapata Counties in the south.

In early July, only 5 percent of the state registered any drought level.  Heading into September, 73 percent of the state has some level of drought per the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Wildfire activity in Texas has been increasing since the start of August, and is expected to continue as the summer drying trend continues.  In Texas, approximately 90 percent of wildfires are caused by humans.  The most common human-caused wildfires this year have been from debris burning and equipment use.

Bruce Woods, head of the Texas A&M Forest Service Mitigation and Prevention Department, says dry conditions paired with an abundance of grass, brush, or other ground cover can “quickly turn an unattended spark into a wildfire”.

Residents are encouraged to exercise caution when using equipment, and to follow all local burn regulations.  They are encouraged to follow the below recommendations to help prevent wildfires:

Safe Equipment Use:

• Grinders, welders, mowers, shredders, balers and other heavy equipment all produce heat and have the potential to start a wildfire.
• Exercise caution when using equipment on hot, dry, and windy days.
• Keep the machinery free of debris build up and in good repair. Always keep a fire extinguisher nearby in case a fire starts.
• Residents should avoid driving in tall, dry grass where the hot catalytic converter can start wildfires – catalytic converters operate between 550-1600° F and can reach 2000° F if the engine is not running properly.

Safe Debris Burning:

• Before burning, check with officials to make sure your county is not under a burn ban.
• Choose a day to burn with winds under 10 mph and high relative humidity for your area.
• Keep the debris pile small and only add more material as it burns down. Clear the area around the pile down to mineral soil.
• Always stay with your fire and have equipment on hand in case it gets out of the designated area.

Current county burn ban information is available at the Texas A&M Forest Service website.