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A winter frost and a wet spring may not raise forest fire concerns, but fire officials say the combination of these events and forecast weather patterns create an environment ripe for larger fires, even in residential areas that are not normally considered at risk.
The winter storm in February increased the amount of fallen leaves and plant debris in the area, particularly in the gutters of homes and businesses. The wet spring helped create lush and leafy vegetation, as well as an increase in grass growth in and around Austin.
While the wet summer conditions were a boon to preventing forest fires, the increase in grass, which now turns golden brown in hot and dry weather, has put the fire department on alert for the seasons to come.
“We are nearing the end of our fire season in central Texas,” said Justice Jones, forest fire officer with the Austin Fire Department. “But we are no longer letting our vigilance down. It’s a year-round event. It’s no longer a seasonal thing. “
Officials noted that Travis County is no longer experiencing the kind of drought it did 10 years ago when the Bastrop wildfires destroyed 1,673 homes and two people died. Then, according to the US Drought Monitor, the area suffered “exceptional drought conditions”.
However, the unique combination of leaves, debris, and drying flora poses an increased threat – one that may not be as noticeable as the drought conditions a decade ago.
Due to changing climate patterns, dry weather is starting in Austin like in the west, where forest fires devastated more than 5 million acres this year. Meteorologist Troy Kimmel said the average amount of rainfall in the region so far this year has been “respectable”, but in August “the tap (rain) will turn off”.
This can be exacerbated by the development of weather events in the Pacific Ocean. According to the Climate Prediction Center, the next few months will bring a 70 to 80 percent chance of a La Niña weather pattern that would cool the Pacific.
“And when the Pacific gets cooler,” said Kimmel, “we’ll get drier.”
Regardless of whether a La Niña occurs, Austin is likely to see grass fires, especially in the east, Jones said. And with more grass than usual, dormant vegetation and increased winds from cold fronts, the conditions are ideal for starting a fire and spreading it.
“When we think about risks, people tend to say, ‘Oh, I see trees, I see hills, I see risks.’ The reality is that the Blackland Prairies, with their lush grass and bush vegetation, are at high risk. … We see fires every winter, ”said Jones. “Once it freezes, we tend to see more grass fires. We want people to be vigilant. “
Officials are urging homeowners to consider what they can do to increase their home’s chance of surviving a fire. As harmless as leaf litter may appear, leaves can serve as kindling in the event of a fire.
“My biggest concern is that everyone’s gutters are a fuse right now,” said Jones. “If you haven’t cleaned them and you have gutters around the roof of your house, a backup is created around your entire roof.”
“We want people to get used to incorporating this into their general lifestyle and maintenance,” he said, “and not (just) taking action when they see something on the news or hear about the fire season, because it is really a year-round readiness. “
Austin Water and Austin Fire Department teamed up earlier this month to form a crew of 10 to support their efforts to make forests more fire resistant. Crew members will focus their mitigation efforts on wooded areas where they can have the greatest impact.
While the fire department is urging homeowners to take steps to reduce their own risk, the city continues its own fire fighting efforts. Austinites can visit the regularly updated Austin-Area Wildfire Hub to help their community prepare for fire and find out about wildfire threats in their area as well as current burns across Texas.
This story was written by a journalism student at the University of Texas at Austin. The Austin Monitor works with the UT School of Journalism to publish stories produced by students on the City and County Government Reporting course.
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