SAN ANTONIO – Dry winds are reaching 40 to 50 miles per hour tonight as southern Texas experiences a severe drought that has been ongoing since 2024.
Just yesterday, firefighters had to put out a blaze in southern Guadalupe County.
“These winds pop up any second, and if there is a lot of leaves and brushes on the ground, it’s gonna take off and get out of control quick,” said Timothy Earle, who lives next to the recent fire.
And that’s exactly why crews across Texas are preparing.
“We are expecting some calls, but we can’t say how many we will respond to as a state,” said Dayziah Petruske a Public Information officer with the Texas A&M Forest Service.
Petruske says they are filling up trucks with water and checking their gear.
“We also call in aircraft,” said Petruske.
But it will be up to agencies like volunteer fire departments to first find the fire before they make a call to Texas A&M Forest Service crews to help.
“They usually all have at least one engine and a dozer,” said Petruske.
She encourages rural South Texas residents to avoid welding or using grinding tools to prevent sparking a fire and to review evacuation routes and have essentials ready in case they have to leave at a moment’s notice.
“I love it out here. I love the trees. Looking around you see plenty of trees out here, but it’s a double-edged sword,” said Earle.
Petruske says it’s critical to be prepared because it takes longer for fire crews to respond in rural areas. Currently, Bexar County is under a burn ban.