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(EMAILWIRE.COM, February 17, 2009 ) COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Texas Forest Service (TFS) is urging citizens across the state to be aware of heightened wildfire danger due to high winds and low relative humidity levels on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The areas of highest concern are the Panhandle, West Texas, Central Texas, the Hill Country and South Texas. This includes the cities of Paris, Witchita Falls, Childress, Perryton, Dalhart, Amarillo, Lubbock, Abilene, Brownwood, Midland/Odessa, Pecos, El Paso, Presidio, San Angelo, Del Rio, San Antonio, Laredo, Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Victoria, La La Grange, Austin, Waco and Dallas/Fort Worth.
“The combination of dry fuels, strong winds and critically low humidity will make fast moving wildfires,” said Kent Prochazka, a National Weather Service meteorologist working with TFS. “Wildfires that start on Tuesday or Wednesday will be very difficult to control. “
These potentially devastating wildfires can quickly endanger public safety and property. Citizens should be aware of the conditions and should not engage in activities that could lead to an accidental wildfire starts. In Texas, humans cause 95 percent of wildfires.
Since the beginning of the winter 2009 wildfire season, which began on January 22, 2009, TFS has responded along with local fire departments to 167 wildfires for 27,563 acres. During the same period, local fire departments have reported an additional 1,149 wildfires for 24,095 acres according to an online database managed by TFS.
For more information on fire advisories and area conditions, go to http://texasforestservice.tamu.edu and click on Fire Danger/Advisories.
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Contact:
Marq Webb
Public Information Officer
Texas Forest Service
information@tfs.tamu.edu
979-255-5129
Misty Wilburn
Communications Specialist
Texas Forest Service
mwilburn@tfs.tamu.edu
979-458-7349
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