WASHINGTON CO. FIREFIGHTERS CAUTION RESIDENTS AFTER SEVERAL GRASS FIRES WEDNESDAY

  

Nearly every fire department in Washington County was kept busy Wednesday afternoon with multiple wildland fires.

The first of several fires was reported around 2 p.m. in the 3000 block of FM 2679.  The Berlin, Burton, Brenham, Salem and Meyersville Fire Departments responded to the blaze, which burned approximately 18 acres.

Another call came in at around 2:30 p.m. for a grass fire in the 8800 block of Longpoint Road.  The Rocky Creek and Gay Hill Fire Departments came to the scene, and approximately 2 acres were consumed.  While units were responding, a third grass fire, later reported to be small in size, was found in the 5000 block of Longpoint Road.  Due to lack of resources, a fire unit from Prairie Hill was requested to verify the fire was out.

At approximately 3 p.m., fire units were dispatched to Browning Street in Chappell Hill for a grass fire.  Units from the Chappell Hill and Washington Fire Departments responded to the fire of roughly 2 acres, which was determined to have been caused by an unattended brush pile.

Units were called out again around 3:30 p.m. to a grass fire at Windy Acres Road and Mt. Vernon Road.  Firefighters from Berlin, Rocky Creek, Brenham and Burton responded to the fire, in which approximately 5 acres were burned.

The Washington County Firefighters Association says the weather conditions over the last few days have included warmer temperatures with a very dry air mass.  Humidity values in the afternoon have dipped into the lower 20s, causing dormant vegetation to dry and be receptive to ignition sources.

Currently, Washington County is not under a burn ban, due to conditions not meeting the criteria set by the state for implementing burn restrictions.  However, the association asks residents to be mindful of the weather and not burn on days with low humidity or high winds, particularly when humidity values are below 40 percent or if winds are over 10 mph.  They should also check their trailer chains when towing trailers and farm equipment, and should have a water source readily available.