The dog days of summer are here and for many parts of the state, that means the potential for wildfires is also growing.
Nick Harrison, the Texas A&M Forest Service Firewise Coordinator, says spring rains are just a memory in some parts of the state.
We’re starting to hit the hottest time of the year with 100-degree days every day and we’ve had no rainfall in many parts of Texas for several weeks. That starts to take a toll on the vegetation that we grew. That is all beginning to stress with the hot, hot days, Harrison said.
The forest service has seen an increase in fires across the state, especially in North, Central and East Texas. Parts of the Panhandle and Far West Texas are still receiving spring rains and are, for the most part, in better shape.
We need to be cautious out there. The public is our number one help out there. Be careful with outdoor burning, Harrison said.
Counties are again instating burn bans. State officials encourage residents to observe burn bans and also care for their property to reduce fire risk.
If tall grasses are growing up on your property, and they’re adjacent to your buildings or your home, get that mowed down. Also, trim up low limbs and trim vegetation away from your home so that if a fire were to start, it’s not going to carry right to your property, Harrison said.
Additional wildfire prevention tips can be found at: http://texasforestservice.tamu.edu/.
Listen to Tom Nicolette’s full report on the TFB Radio Network’s News and Views program here: http://bit.ly/1W4ehsC.