Central Texas wildfire risk increases due to high heat

Texas has seen its fair share of extreme weather: droughts, tornadoes and even ice storms. Now one more can be added to the list: a growing risk of severe wildfires, brought on by this summer’s persistent heat and low precipitation.

“Texas has always dealt with wild-land fire risk,” Hudson said. “The past several years have increased the hazard.”

Firefighter Leon Hudson, director of the LBJ Fire Academy, is an expert in wildfire management. According to Hudson, Texas wildfires aren’t unprecedented, but recent environmental factors are cause for increased concern.

The two most important factors contributing to wild-land fires are Texas’ long, severely hot months coupled with little to no rain.

“This [combination] causes vegetation to dry out and damages infrastructure, which leads to power lines breaking and roads becoming dangerous to drive on, resulting in automobile accidents, driving vehicles onto fields of tall grass, etc.” Hudson said. “Just add wind, and it’s the perfect storm.”

A fire’s danger level is largely determined by the speed at which it’s able to grow.

“The fire spreads rapidly, consuming the fuel that was created by the extreme heat and lack of rain,” Hudson said. “Once a fire starts, it requires resources the homeowner doesn’t have to contain it and extinguish it.”

Human activity is responsible for the vast majority of wildfires — nearly 90%, according to the Western Fire Chiefs Association.

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The fire spreads rapidly, consuming the fuel that was created by the extreme heat and lack of rain. Once a fire starts, it requires resources the homeowner doesn’t have to contain it and extinguish it.

— LBJ Fire Academy director Leon Hudson

“This activity includes direct causes such as malfunctioning equipment, burning brush during burn bans, fireworks and abandoned campfires,” Hudson said.“The indirect activity includes power lines, building in remote areas and allowing vegetation to grow unattended.”

AP Environmental Science teacher Elaine Bohls-Graham explained how urban sprawl also contributes to wildfire risk.

“We can see this happening here in Austin as we built houses east of us, as we built homes and apartments west of us and as we built additional roads and parking lots,” Bohls-Graham said. “It’s created drier areas where we don’t have creeks running like they used to. We are starting to see the environmental effects of Austin’s economic development.”

Gov. Greg Abbott issued a wildfire disaster declaration for three-fourths of all Texas counties on Aug. 14. Since Aug. 1, at least 85,000 acres of Texas land have burned, according to a report by the Texas A&M Forest Service.

Fin Kirsch, McCallum Environmental Knights vice president, works to raise awareness about important environmental issues facing the local community, including how to reduce wildfire risk.

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We are starting to see the environmental effects of Austin’s economic development. It’s created drier areas where we don’t have creeks running like they used to.

— AP Environmental Science teacher Elaine Bohls-Graham

“One of the things we can do is be aware of our surroundings, like being careful about throwing cigarette butts out,” Kirsch said. “We also need to be aware of burn bans.”

Hudson suggests collecting and safely disposing of dead vegetation.

“Trimming the trees around our homes and buildings creates defensible space in the event a fire does break out,” Hudson said. “Trimming trees away from power lines helps prevent energized power lines being knocked down from wind.”

Even as the Texas heat begins to let up, Hudson believes vigilance is still crucial in preventing fires.

“Although the temperatures are tolerable, the dry conditions still exist,” Hudson said. “The fire hazard is still with us. Fires are easy to start, and very difficult to contain.”