Strong winds and dry air prompt a Red Flag Warning across the Coastal Bend. Fire chiefs warn even one unintentional spark could cause a fast-spreading fire.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The threat of wildfire is always a concern during drought, but it grows more dangerous when strong cold fronts bring in dry air.

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On Wednesday, Corpus Christi is expected to see gusts between 30 and 40 mph and relative humidity around 15% in the afternoon. Those conditions have prompted a Red Flag Warning from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. October 29th, signaling a high risk for fast-spreading fires.

“Well, in our case, we’re already very dry. Everything is completely dead. And then, with the low humidity, things seem to ignite very easily.  And when they do, with the low humidity and high winds, they’re going to spread very quickly. They’re going to be hard to control and hard to stop,” said Michael Clack, fire chief for Nueces County ESD 1 and 4.

The very low humidity will cause one-hour fuels, such as grasses, to ignite quickly and burn rapidly. The danger increases when wind-driven flames spread into thicker brush.

“And if it’s in trees or thicker brush, we may have hot spots for longer, which means our firefighters would have to be on scene for an extended period of time to ensure that those hot spots don’t flare up again, or toss embers with the wind into unburnt fuels,” explains Brandon Wade, Corpus Christi Fire Department fire chief.

Chief Clack said firefighters often see unintentional fires during nearly every Red Flag Warning.

“Our biggest hazard is, of course, chains being drug by trucks and trailers. That usually causes lots of fires, and if they get going, they can spread very rapidly,” he said.

As firefighters prepare for the heightened fire danger, they urge South Texans to be cautious with everyday activities that could cause a spark. That includes, but is not limited to, pulling over onto grass, flicking a cigarette butt, grilling with charcoal or wood, or mowing dry lawns.

Fire officials emphasize that it takes a community effort to prevent wildfires from spreading. Still, local fire departments and members of the Texas A&M Forest Service are ready to respond if fires ignite.

“Our number one priority is to protect the life and then the property with it,” Chief Wade said.