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Fire Danger Continues for Hays County - Trash Burning, Welding, Campfires and Use of Any Combustible Materials Outdoors Still Hazardous
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All Hays County residents should call Hays County Sheriff's Office prior to burning.
Even with occasional rain, the last year's record drought and occasional winds associated with weather fronts in the Hill Country continue to create combustible conditions in Central Texas.
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March, 2007:
Drought conditions increase danger of wildfire.
The Hays County area is still located within a fire danger zone, whether or not a burn ban is in effect. All outdoor combustibles may start fires. Extreme caution is advised.
Office Of Emergency Management and Hays County Fire Marshall's Office, 512-393-7399.
Please report illegal burning to 911.
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Extreme conditions continue in Hays County and Central Texas has been experiencing a serious drought. For much of 2006, an executive order was in place for Hays County, prohibiting all use of combustible materials by any person outdoors. This included welding, fireworks of any type or description, and any other activity that could result in a fire.
Occasionally, a false sense of safety after a rain may spur burning activity that can threaten life and property within minutes. Welding, fireworks of any type or description, fires near homes or trees, and any other outdoor fire activity can always result in a fire that quickly explodes out of control.
On August 24, a fire destroying 2 structures and threatening more on Mail Route Road, between Wimberley and Canyon Lake called out 25 firefighters from Canyon Lake, Spring Branch, Wimberley and South Hays Fire Departments.
Burning trash and even cigarette butts tossed out truck windows can cause instant combustion under current conditions. A burn ban has been issued in the hope of preventing this scene in Wimberley.
All summer firefighters have been battling wildfires that rip through thousands of acres and continue to threaten Hill Country residents. (Full story here.)
The deadly combination of drought and breezy days create conditions where any flame may ignite a wildfire that quickly burns out of control. More than once, trash burning outside has caused raging wildfires in Texas. (See the stories below.) The Hill Country remains in extreme fire danger.
The Texas Forest Service reports: "An extended weather pattern of hot days relieved by only isolated showers has left grasses and other vegetation much drier than normal. The result: without significant widespread, long-duration rains, Texas firefighters foresee a growing threat of wildfires.
Conditions now are similar to those that occurred in summer 1998, during which Texas experienced one of the worst years on record for wildfires, according to Tom Spencer, wildfire risk assessment coordinator with Texas Forest Service.
He noted that accidental fires due to escaped debris burning continue to be the primary cause of wildfires... Sparks-producing equipment, hot vehicle exhaust systems and careless disposal of smoking materials also cause many wildfires."
As far back as April, 2006, the Wimberley area has been suffering under drought conditions. Burn bans may have saved many lives in the last months, and have so far helped prevent such destructive incidents as these from the Austin American-Statesman in early April :
"Wildfires in three Hill Country counties were largely contained Saturday after killing one man, injuring two firefighters, threatening dozens of homes and destroying more than 6,000 acres.
In Uvalde County, where a burn ban had been lifted, fires caused by burning debris destroyed 2,000 acres near Utopia and 2,500 acres near Montell, Texas Forest Service spokeswoman Traci Weaver said.
A ranch hand was found dead next to his bulldozer Friday night after trying to protect his property from fast-moving flames near Montell.
About 55 miles southeast of Utopia, where a burn ban was in effect, fire burned 400 acres and injured two firefighters Friday.
That fire started as two, one caused by someone burning cactus needles and the other by a welder, Weaver said.
In Hunt, in Kerr County, about 140 miles west of Austin, a fire that began Friday at the Guadalupe Ranch had destroyed 1,100 acres by early Saturday morning. Winds made it difficult to stay ahead of the blaze.
"The fire moved so fast, we couldn't do anything but not get in the way," Hunt volunteer firefighter Dutch Hintze said." (Austin American-Statesman, April 9, 2006)
When acting under an extreme fire alert, officials in Hays County will issue large
fines to anyone burning outside or using fireworks of any kind.
Proper disposal of cigarettes is included...a burning cigarette
butt flung carelessly from a vehicle can start a fire in moments during
these extreme conditions and qualifies as a combustible material. Do not throw cigarettes out a vehicle window.
The Texas Forest Service And United States Forest Service indicate fire
danger has reached very high to extreme levels over the last months.
These fire danger levels indicate an enhanced potential for fires to
ignite easier, spread faster, and be more difficult to control.
Texas Forest Service Newsroom
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