10 AM
Current situation:
· Yesterday Texas Forest Service responded to 11 new fires for 1,047 acres, including a new large fire in Bastrop County.
· In the past seven days Texas Forest Service has responded to 104 fires for 5,731 acres.
· 251 of the 254 Texas counties are reporting burn bans.
· Daily detailed fire information can be found here or at inciweb.org.
New large fires from yesterday (more than 100 acres in timber, 300 acres in lighter fuels; or where homes were lost):
OLD POTATO ROAD, Bastrop County. 1,000 acres, 25 percent contained. 50 homes threatened and evacuations are in occurring with structure protection in progress. Multiple dozer task forces, heavy airtankers, helicopters, SEATs and an air attack are heavily engaged in suppression efforts. This fire is burning in heavy fuels approximately 7 miles northeast of Bastrop.
Uncontained fires from previous days (more than 100 acres in timber, 300 acres in lighter fuels):
SOUTH 104, Hardeman County. 3,700 acres, 90 percent contained. Line construction and mop up continue. This fire is burning 12 miles southwest of Quanah.
Weather Outlook:
WEST: An upper level disturbance moving out of the Southern Rockies will combine with Gulf moisture moving up the Rio Grande River Valley through West Texas and into the Panhandle ahead of a lee-side surface trough in eastern New Mexico to produce isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms for much of West Texas today. Winds will continue to be strong and gusty across Central and West Texas as dry air remains in place ahead of the system in East and Central Texas to produce Elevated Fire Weather Conditions for the Upper Red River Valley into the Big Country. A cold front will approach the state Thursday and move into Central Texas by the weekend with increasing winds and moisture statewide and chances for rain ahead of along the frontal boundary.
EAST: A high pressure ridge over east Texas and surface based high pressure to the northeast will continue to bring low level east to southeast winds resulting in continued dry conditions today. A gradual shift of the wind to more of a southeast direction overall will increase relative humidity trends starting in the southern zone near the coast today. By Wednesday, additional Gulf moisture will have worked northward but minimum humidity in the central and northern zones of east Texas will still see minimum humidity within the 20 percent range. Moisture will continue to increase across the region day by day with the possibility of a shower or thunderstorm Friday in the southwest part of the Livingston zone.
Prevention Message:
WILDLAND/URBAN INTERFACE WATCHOUTS
The primary consideration is to first assure firefighter and public safety. It is a must to assess potential fire behavior, ingress/egress routes, nature of the threat, hazardous materials, and available water supplies before engaging in the protection of any structures. The first step in conducting a safe operation is to assess whether the firefighting operations can be conducted safely.
- Consider the “Wildland/Urban Interface Watchouts” in completing a risk analysis for the urban interface area to be protected. Remember there are three categories of structures:
- Those that are not threatened.
- Those that are threatened.
- Those that have already been lost or too dangerous to protect.
- Wildland/Urban Interface Watchouts:
- Poor access and narrow, one-way roads. A rapidly spreading fire could trap apparatus and personnel before they can turn around or move away from the flames and smoke.
- Observe bridge limits. Exceeding bridge limits could lead to bridge failure with a resultant blocking of ingress/egress routes that could result in the loss of an escape route or loss of equipment.
- Inadequate water supply. Without a reserve supply of water, the fire can overtake an area before the fuels can be cleared away.
- Natural fuels are located 30 feet or closer to structures on level ground. Remember structures on slopes require greater clearance. Structures are located on canyon slopes or “chimneys” on slopes of 30% or more with continuous, flashy fuels. The resulting rate of spread of any fire in this terrain can quickly extend beyond control.
- Extreme fire behavior: Situations involving crowning, large flame heights and erratic fire behavior can extend in an unpredictable manner beyond the control of any number of personnel. Strong winds of 25+ MPH: Winds increase the chance of spotting over the heads of firefighters and trapping them between both fire areas. Winds also cause greater preheating of fuels in the path of a fire front.
- The need to evacuate the public, livestock, pets, and/or animals. This critical activity can pull personnel from the firefighting activity and can distract attention from fire behavior at a time when the greatest alertness is needed.
- Propane and above ground fuel tanks that are next to wooden structures or close to vegetation
- Power lines and poles: What is their location in relation to the structures that are being protected? Watch for both overhead and downed power lines.
- Local citizens are attempting suppression activities. Lack of knowledge in fire suppression may lead to unsafe tactics.
- Airtanker retardant drops and helicopter bucket operations: Establish communications and keep fire personnel out of the drop zone.
