Texas wildfire update - Dec. 14, 2011 

Current situation:  

• There were no requests for Texas Forest Service assistance on wildfires yesterday.
• 131 of the 254 Texas counties are reporting burn bans.
• Detailed fire information can be found atinciweb.org.
• Today's forecast fire danger is low to moderate throughout the state.
• Rain is forecast for much of the state today and tomorrow (map attached).  

Fuels summary:   

• Favorable cold progressive weather pattern continues.
• Cured conditions across the state.
• No critical fuel dryness; litter fuels stop/slow fire spread.
• Two to three days of drying followed by high wind and dry air will provide initial attack activity in grass-dominated fuels.
• Four to five days of drying in pine timber litter needed for return of initial attack activity.
• No significant fire potential through Tuesday.

  

Many residents affected by the wildfire in 2011 are breathing a collective sigh of relief after being notified that the federal government is giving Texas 31 million to help with recovery from the worst wildfire season in the state's history. According to officials, most of the money will be going to Bastrop County near Austin, Texas.

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Officials in Potter and Randall counties are entering 2012 with a higher sense of nervousness as 2011 was a costly year fighting wildfires. The two counties combined spent over 1.1 million dollars fighting wildfires in 2011. Both counties are in need of equipment and trucks as well as repairs to their existing equipment. 

Local departments usually rely on grants from the Texas Forest Service, but due to the economic crisis much of that stopped when state lawmakers cut the budget. Around 340 wildfires did around 15.6 million in damage to land and property in the two counties in 2011. 

Officials with the Texas Forest Service say that any additional grant money won't become available until later in the summer. The agency has 7 million in grants for 2012, but the money is marked for training and firefighting clothing not new trucks and rigs. 

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Officials say that the Texas State Park system is facing a 4.6 million dollar budget gap due to record heat, rough and wildfires. These conditions have lead to a decrease of visitors to the parks. According to the parks department, visitor fees account for half of the 69 million dollar operating budget for the state park system.

Because of the heat and wildfires, many visitors stayed home altogether. Three extremely popular state parks, Bastrop, Davis Mountains and Possum Kingdom produced no revenues at all for weeks. Officials are asking the public to make a tax deductible donation by visiting 

www.tpwd.state.tx.us/helpparks

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According to the Texas Forest Service, nearly 4 million acres burned in Texas during the fire season, with losses due to fire of more than 217 million dollars. The Agriculture Commissioner has extended the deadline to November 30th for relief assistance through the Texas Department of Agriculture's Star Fund. Eligible applicants must complete a FSA 848 application for federal assistance through the emergency conservation program to certify those agriculture fences which were damaged or destroyed by this year's wildfires. Ranchers who need more information may visit www.texasagriculture.gov for any questions they may have. 

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Like many counties in Texas, Harris County has had a burn ban in effect for the longest time in recent memory. The seventh month ban was enacted after the wildfires ravaged Texas this past summer. The county fire marshal has said due to recent rains and cooler temperatures the lifting of the burn ban has been made possible. The decision affects 1,100 acres. The county commissioners will vote to lift the ban Tuesday. 

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Victims of the massive wildfires, which have struck many Texans this past year, now have a new resource available to help them put their lives back together. The governor's disaster proclamation allows Texas wildfire victims to claim an exemption from sales tax on labor charges to repair the damages. In addition, business owners affected by the wildfires may request an extension to file an pay taxes. The extensions can be requested up to 90 days. 

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As of November 15th, it has been one year since the most devastating wildfire season began in Texas. Officials continue to stress the need to be careful and cautious, as large blazes could ignite anywhere in the state due to the ongoing severe drought conditions. In the past year, wildfires in Texas have destroyed over four million acres and more than 2,900 homes, killing 10 people. During the spring firefighters battled what officials now believe were 7 of the 10 biggest wildfires in the state's history. 

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