TexasForestryServiceCurrent wildfire status – April 1, 2011

Texas Forestry Service continues to prepare for high-impact fire weather days on Saturday and Sunday, particularly on Sunday.

Recent response:

  • Yesterday (Thursday, March 31), Texas Forest Service responded to 6 fires burning 77 acres.
  • Two single-engine air tankers and a Type I helicopter assisted on a 50-acre fire in Garza County late in the day Thursday.
  • In the past seven days TFS has responded to 39 fires burning 4,039 acres.
  • 178 Texas counties are reporting burn bans (map attached).

West Texas: Red flag conditions are likely over the west Saturday and that critical area will expand north and east on Sunday as winds begin to pick up once again and will interact with the hot and dry conditions in place. A cold front will begin to move through the northernmost part of the state Sunday night and be located over the Big Country by early Monday. Strong winds are expected behind the boundary and fire weather concerns will shift to central Texas Monday.

East Texas: Windy and warm weather over the weekend will lead to elevated fire weather concerns. The next cold front arrives sometime Monday through Monday night and scattered showers will be possible as a strong storm system passes through.

Prevention messages:

  • If you get rain, don’t assume the drought is over. Fuels dry out quickly with higher temperatures and increased winds.
  • Don’t burn trash or debris when conditions are dry or windy. Unsafe burning of leaves, brush, household trash and other debris is the No. 1 cause of wildfires in Texas.
  • Obey outdoor burning bans.
  • Monitor weather for current and forecasted conditions prior to any burning activities. Debris piles can hold heat from several days to several weeks.
  • Choose drought-resistant (tolerant) plants and shrubs for landscaping. They require less water and are more fire resistant.
  • The most common cause of wildfires is humans: Careless debris burning, unattended campfires, dumping hot charcoal or hot ashes, driving on a flat tire, parking or driving in dry grass, dragging chains on the road and welding can all cause fires.