High wildfire danger in Central Texas triggers state response

BRAZOS COUNTY, Texas (KRHD) — Central Texas and the Brazos Valley are at high risk of wildfires due to dry conditions, prompting local and state officials to take precautions and dedicate resources to fight fires.

• Dry conditions have created a “tinderbox” environment where even small sparks can ignite wildfires.
• Governor Abbott has declared 146 counties, including Brazos County and surrounding areas, disaster areas due to the fire threat.
• The Texas A&M Forest Service has mobilized over 300 firefighters, aircraft and equipment to prepare for possible fires.

Broadcast script:

Central Texas and the Brazos Valley are currently at high risk of wildfires as dry conditions have created a “tinderbox” environment.

“So right now it’s a powder keg. Any little thing right now could start a fire, a grass fire, a wildfire, anything from throwing cigarettes out the window to cutting grass to hitting rocks – any little thing that could cause a spark, could a… “There is no wildfire at this time,” said Jason Ware, Brazos County’s deputy emergency management coordinator.

Local officials, including Ware and his team, are urging the public to take precautions to prevent fires.

“Keep the grass short and make sure to clear away anything that could ignite, such as piles of winter firewood or similar stacked next to buildings,” Ware said.

“All bushes that are close to buildings, houses or similar will be removed.”

In response to the growing threat, Gov. Greg Abbott has issued disaster declarations for 146 counties, including Brazos, Grimes, Milam and Robertson counties, citing the imminent threat of wildfires.

“Some people would call it nice weather because it’s sunny and relatively dry and there’s no rain – but if that goes on for too long, of course everything on the ground starts to dry out,” explained U.S. climatologist John Nielsen. State of Texas Ham.

“So that increases the risk of fire because it’s one of the ingredients – it’s the fuel that fires have to feed on.”

Nielsen-Gammon emphasized that conditions are only likely to improve once there is significant rainfall.

“Rain is the main factor that will end everything – unfortunately the outlook for the next week or two does not look promising,” Nielsen-Gammon said.

“We have to worry about that, especially if we have a strong cold front with strong winds, because that makes it really hard to fight fires when it comes through dry.”

To combat the wildfire threat, the Texas A&M Forest Service has mobilized more than 300 firefighters and support personnel, 18 firefighting aircraft and over 35 fire trucks on standby.