Significant fire potential map is pictured above.
Recent response:
- Yesterday (Tuesday, April 5), Texas Forest Service responded to 13 fires burning 101 acres.
- In the past seven days TFS has responded to 76 fires burning 21,561 acres.
- 179 Texas counties are reporting burn bans. (pictured below)
Uncontained fires from previous days:
CAMP BOWIE FIRE, Brown County. 2,955 acres, 90 percent contained. The fire is burning on the Camp Bowie Military Reservation south of Brownwood. The acreage decrease is due to GPS mapping. Fire activity is minimal within the perimeter and little growth is expected.
Weather Outlook:
West Texas: Several critical fire weather days are expected through the remainder of the week as temperatures continue to warm back above normal.
East Texas: No precipitation will be possible until the weekend and even that looks iffy at this point. Temperatures will continue to increase during the week but so will low level moisture resulting in increased humidity levels with a period of morning low clouds possible later in the week.
Prevention messages:
- If you get rain, don’t assume the drought is over. Fuels dry out quickly with higher temperatures and increased winds.
- Obey outdoor burning bans. 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.
- · Keep lawn mowers and agricultural equipment in proper working condition and avoid rocks and other materials which might cause a spark.
- To report suspicious activities, call the Arson Hotline at (888) 501-3850. If possible, safely obtain an accurate description of the person and/or vehicle (including the license number) before calling the hotline.
- With freezing temperatures behind us, now is the time to connect hoses to outside water faucets to help protect your home in the event of a wildfire. Your household water source can prove to be vital in protecting your home in some circumstances.
- Monitor weather for current and forecasted conditions prior to any burning activities. Debris piles can hold heat from several days to several weeks.
- 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.
