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June 2011 Wildfire News Page

June 27, 2011

U.S Forest Service Bans All Fires in National Forests

The U.S. Forest Service has announced a forest wide ban on any open campfires, grill fires, stoves, lanterns and any other open flame. The ban is in effect for the following counties, Angelina, Sabine, Davy Crockett, and Sam Houston National forests. In spite of heavy rainfall in East Texas the Texas Forest Service warns on continued wildfire danger on Monday. Since November 3, 2011 3,268,011 acres of the Texas Forest Service have been lost to wildfires.

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Wildfire Within One Mile of Los Alamos Lab

Los Alamos Lab has been evacuated as a massive wildfire which has grown to 43,597 acres which has spread to within one mile of the Los Alamos Lab. The Las Conchas wildfire continues to start spot wildfires which are moving dangerously close to the Los Alamos Lab. The lab is closed due to the wildfire and have dispatched emergency crews to protect key facilities and materials. Voluntary evacuations have been issued for the towns of Los Alamos and White Rock, which has a combined population of 18,000.


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June 23, 2011

Texas Ranchers Lobbying For Help

Recent wildfires in Texas which have destroyed thousands of acres of fence have forced many ranchers to head to Washington to seek relief. The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association have meet with lawmakers requesting help in replacing over 4,000 miles of fencing costing over 40 million dollars which has been destroyed in the rash of wildfires recently. The group is seeking a waiver of the current rule which says a fence must be less than 20 years old to be eligible for rebuilding cost share assistance. 

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June 22, 2011

East Texas Wildfires Helped By Rain

Volunteer firefighters in East Texas are breathing a sigh of relief as rain came to East Texas on Wednesday. A wildfire which broke out Sunday in Grimes County about 60 miles northwest of Houston and was 50% contained and the rain helped keep embers from being blown around and starting new wildfires. No new wildfires were reported Wednesday but the Texas Forest Service was still battling 17 large wildfires which have consumed more than 145,000 acres. In Grimes County around 5,300 acres have burned and 30 homes have been destroyed. About 2,000 resident were forced from their homes since the wildfires have began.

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June 21, 2011

Wildfires Taking Toll On Amarillo Resources

While the State of Texas is also having budget woes due to the recent wildfires popping up all over the state, the local Amarillo area is also feeling the pinch of the wildfires. Wildfires in February alone are estimated to have cost the Office of Emergency Management more than 132,000 in equipment usage and personnel and overtime. Officials are urging citizens to be extremely careful of barbecues and are asking to avoid any outdoor burning if possible. 

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June 16, 2011

TFS Warns of States Vulnerability to Wildfire

The Texas Forest Service is warning that the parched conditions are leaving the state of Texas vulnerable to wildfires. Currently critical wildfire conditions are forecasted across most of West Texas. The Texas Forest Service is currently responding to six major wildfires which have burned 53,778 acres. 

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Texas Experiencing Extremely High Temperatures

According to the National Weather Service, Amarillo has only received .68 inches of rain compared to the normal range of 7.8 inches. This has lead to excessive drought conditions which has lead to extreme wildfire danger throughout the Panhandle. In May there were 14 days where the wind speeds were high than 40 mph. This year the weather service has issued more red-flag warnings in the first six months than in any of the previous half-dozen years. In Potter and Randall County along, approximately 100,000 acres have burned this year. Since September 2011, $126 million has been spent fighting wildfires in Texas, according to the U.S. Forest Service. 

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June 15, 2011

Texas Forest Service Holding Recovery Class 

The Texas Forest Service will be holding a workshop for landowners in Potter and Randall Counties who have been devastated by the recent wildfires. The workshop will be held June 28, 2011 and will focus on how to restore the land in the aftermath of the devastating wildfires. Since November 15, 2011 almost 3 million acres have burned in Texas. The workshop is titled " After the Fire" and will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday June 28, 2011 at the GRIT center 8827 S. Washington Street in Amarillo, Texas. Topics to be discussed include native grass recovery and soils, cost share programs and fire-wise safety principles.

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June 14, 2011

Palo Pinto Wildfire Raging Out Of Control

The Texas Forest Service on Monday responded to four large wildfires in Palo Pinto, Howard, Carson and Hardin Counties. The Palo Pinto wildfire has burned 2,500 acres and is not contained and burning in very rough terrain. Currently the TFS is working on 13 wildfires across the state which have burned over 60,000 acres. 

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Firework Amnesty Program In Effect 

Due to recent wildfires in Potter and Randall County have banned fireworks for the upcoming Fourth of July. The City of Amarillo, and Potter and Randall County announced a firework amnesty program Tuesday, offering to dispose of illegal fireworks. Fireworks are banned because of the high temperatures, low humidity and the extremely dry conditions which are ideal for a massive wildfire. The amnesty program is designed to give residents a chance to dispose of fireworks or old ammunition with no questions asked and without fear of prosecution. It is currently illegal to store and possess fireworks within Amarillo city limits. Officials say the whole point is to protect property and lives. 

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June 13, 2011

Wildfire Conditions Predicted For Tuesday

Wildfire conditions are expected today as the dry windy conditions are expected and look only to get worse as the week goes on. Winds in the 35-40 mph range with gusts up to 60 mph are expected Tuesday. Since January more than 840 fires have consumed almost 1.5 million acres. 

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June 07, 2011

Carson County Bans Fireworks

Carson County is the first of what many predict will be most of the counties in Texas to declare a ban on fireworks this Fourth of  July. Carson County declared a local state of disaster based on the threat of large wildfires. The ban is only in effect for 60 hours, however a request has been sent to the Governor's office to extend the state of disaster through July 5, 2011. While Carson County was the first to ban fireworks many feel all the counties will do so because of the increased wildfire danger.

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Texas County Bans Barbecue Grills

Due to the recent wildfires which have devastated Texas recently has lead to some counties taking extreme steps to prevent future wildfires. One county in particular Guadalupe has even gone as far as to ban any and all outdoor flames including barbecue grills. Violating the burn ban in this county could result in six months in jail and a fine of 1,000. Officials feel that this is a small price to pay because of the risks associated with any outdoor flames. Wildfires have burned close to three million acres of ranch land fueled by the dry conditions and high winds and excessive drought. 

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Potter and Randall County Issues Firework Ban

Potter and Randall County has issued a temporary disaster declaration on Tuesday. Due to severe drought conditions and high temperatures the two counties issued the declarations which are valued for two and half days and will need Governor Perry's approval to be extended. The disaster declaration bans the use and sale of fireworks because of increased risk of wildfire devastation.

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June 02, 2011

Firework Stand Viewed As Insensitive

Due to the recent wildfires which have struck and decimated the area recently, many feel that fireworks will be and should be banned. However one company began putting up its firework stand only days after a wildfire burned many homes. The firework stand on Tascosa road is only a few yards away from one house which was completely destroyed by wildfires. Many residents in the neighborhood are extremely upset about the lack of sensitivity of the firework stand owners. With the current wildfire conditions including high temperatures and excessive wind, many feel a firework season is just to dangerous and could be deadly.

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June 01, 2011

2011 Year of The Wildfire

2011 might be known in Texas as the year of the wildfire. The wind and dry temperature have driven the wildfires across the Panhandle. Many feel you should honor the volunteer firefighters who risk their lives not for money or glory but because they are brave and they believe it is the right thing to do. Dan and night volunteer firefighters brave the danger and risks to protect us from the extreme angers from the wildfires. The people who risk their lives for us truly deserve the utmost respect and honor we can give them.

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Wildfires Having Huge Economic Impact

Texas is in one of the worst wildfire seasons in recent history, a-lot of it being due to the extreme drought conditions the state is experiencing. Many officials are estimating the losses from these conditions are in excess of 1.5 billion dollars and rising with each new day of sunshine and each acre burned. The National Drought Mitigation Center indicates that 26% of the state is experiencing an "exceptional" drought. Exceptional droughts are expected only twice per century. Texas is a major producer of cattle and wheat, and plants half the cotton in the U.S. So the fate of Texas and its crops has far reaching effects. 

Wildfires have destroyed well over a million acres of range land used to feed cattle, as well as homes, barns, businesses and other tangible assets. Another major problem facing Texas is the state's water resources keeping up with heavy demand. many ranchers have been forced to sell cattle early at a loss. Some Texas farmers have delayed planting due to the dry conditions, where even those with irrigation are hard pressed because of the strong winds are sweeping away the moisture.

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