Late-summer wildfire season has arrived across the Texas Panhandle as hot, dry conditions and ongoing drought increase the risk of fires igniting and spreading.
Resources from across the country are stationed in the Panhandle to help respond quickly if a wildfire breaks out.
“We brief every morning to make sure we have the information to keep our resources safe in the event we end up on a fire,” said Mike Reed, leader of the South Dakota Task Force. “We do different types of training. Some is drafting, tactics or strategy and some of those other things.”
Texas A&M Forest Service officials said wildfire activity has increased in recent months.
“Over the last few months, we’ve been seeing an increase in wildfire ignitions,” said Juan Rodriguez, wildland-urban interface coordinator for the Texas A&M Forest Service. “That’s from lightning strikes to roadside starts, things like that. It’s become a lot easier for these wildfire conditions to appear because of the weather patterns we’re seeing.”
Fire engines, equipment and personnel are strategically positioned across the region to allow for a faster response.
“Nobody can do it by themselves,” Reed said. “We have initial attack resources, but when any one area gets really busy and gets a lot of fire, they always count on neighbors for help. The world is getting smaller and smaller, and we’re all over the country, quite honestly, at this point.”
Rodriguez said Texas has also requested additional personnel and equipment from other states.
“We also have folks, fire engines, equipment and personnel from throughout the country, throughout other states, that have come here upon request to work for the state of Texas,” Rodriguez said.
High temperatures and low humidity are expected to continue for days, and potentially weeks, into September, maintaining elevated wildfire conditions across the Panhandle.
Texas Panhandle wildfire risk rises as hot, dry conditions persist (KVII)