Of the 254 counties in the state, 224 of them now have instituted burn bans, reported the Texas A&M Forest Service on July 28.
“With another period of dry and hot weather forecasted for next week, we could very easily be back into seeing increased wildfire activity here in East Texas,” said Ryan Burns, Public Information Officer for Texas A&M Forest Service.
He noted 9 out of 10 wildfires are caused by people.
“Prevention is key,” said Burns. “Do your part to protect Texas from wildfires.”
Burn stated a few things the public can do:
• Obey local burn bans and restrictions! 254 counties currently have a burn ban and 99% of the state is experiencing some level of drought. Debris burning continues to be a leading cause of wildfires.
• Welding, cutting, and grinding can produce sparks and ignite vegetation nearby. Clear the work area of any vegetation and always have a spotter and water source nearby.
• Do not drive, park, or idle vehicles in tall vegetation. Stay on designated roads. Keep tires properly inflated.
• Stay wildfire aware. If a wildfire is spotted, contact local authorities immediately.
Since Jan. 1, the Texas A&M Forest Service and local fire departments have responded to 6,919 wildfires for 598,224 acres across the state (as of July 25). Over the past seven days, Texas A&M Forest Service and local fire departments have responded to 203 wildfires for 21,043 acres across the state.