Message from Fire Chief Larry McRae about high fire danger

We like to see NO red lines on this chart; today SIX exist.

As we go without significant rain, the drought conditions and fire danger continue to increase. The occasional isolated showers improve conditions, however, it is for a very short period of time; maybe a day, and the drought conditions return. For many, the showers provide a false sense of security and they decide to do outside burning only to have it get out of control.

1. Fire Behavior/Fire Danger (picture above): This is a document we produce each day and send out to all the fire departments in the county. It contains thresholds for different things that effect how a wildland fire burns. When three or more of the thresholds are exceeded, those in red, the way the fire “behaves” become more problematic and harder to extinguish. This lets the fire departments know if a fire occurs under these conditions it will be harder to extinguish and may require more resources to extinguish.

2. Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) - This is an index used to determine the severity of the drought in live fuels such as grass, leaves, twigs, limbs, etc.

3. State KBDI Map - The map shows the KBDI for the counties in Texas. Northeast and East Texas are experiencing significant drought conditions. This is totally opposite of normal conditions for the State since Central, West and Panhandle areas are the ones where drought conditions usually develop first.

Suffice it to say if the drought conditions continue to worsen significant wildland fires are a real possibility. Please keep that in mind if you plan on doing any outdoor burning. Please pass this information on to others.