Praying For Rain

By Brooke Nevins

Standard-Radio Post Reporter

While Texas is no stranger to dry spells and dusty rain gauges, drought conditions have reached extreme levels this spring as a wicked combination of high wind speeds and little rainfall have turned tall dry brush into a statesized tinderbox.

The U.S. Drought Monitor estimates that as of April 26, almost 94% of the state — roughly 17 million Texans — is experiencing some level of drought. Fifty percent of the state falls under the Extreme Drought intensity category, while nearly 20 percent is in an Exceptional Drought.

In this last and most dire stage, agricultural output suffers, water sources shrink and land is extremely sensitive to fire danger.

Gillespie County currently falls under both the monitor’s Extreme Drought and Exceptional Drought levels. The Office of the Texas State Climatologist’s most recent Climate Summary from April 4 reports that the county received between just 0.1-0.3 inches of rainfall at the end of March.

According to Gillespie County Fire Marshal Steve Olfers, fires have plagued all parts of the county and surrounding regions and have not been concentrated in a particular area. An exceptionally windy March exacerbated the conditions.

“In addition to those winds,” Olfers said, “we were extremely dry and humidity (percentage) levels were unbelievably low, to the single digits at times.”

But late April showers have abated some fire risk locally.

“What has improved is a slight bit of your typical spring ‘green up,’” Olfers said. “Anything out there is trying to grow new, afresh. And humidity levels have gone up, so we’ve moved out of that really, really dangerous time into this moderate state.”

But first responders are still wary. While the percentage of Texas in some level of drought dropped by two points between April 19-26, more of that land has moved into the Exceptional Drought category — including Gillespie County.

A burn ban was issued on March 28 following several large fires in and around the county. Olfers said that people have largely adhered to the ban, which carries a $500 fine, if broken.

“(Infractions) will happen from time to time,” the marshal said.

Gillespie County firefighters surround a blaze before it engulfs a structure during a wildfire near Fredericksburg High School on Tuesday, Feb. 22. Rain in late April has improved fire risk locally. —

Standard-Radio Post file photo

Layers of fire grow in a field near Fredericksburg High School on Tuesday, Feb. 22. Wildires have been eminent in many areas of Texas this year. — Standard-Radio

Post file photo

“But generally, we don’t see a blatant disregard for a burn ban.”

Instead, he said, the grass fires have been accidental.

“An interesting (phenomenon) that happens is when you burn bigger piles, the coals can lay semi-buried in the ground with very limited oxygen,” he said. “They can smolder for weeks at a time and that sneaks up on people periodically. We see that quite often, actually.”

Furthermore, welding and other construction activities that utilize cutting torches and abrasive saws throw sparks, which can rapidly grow to a multi-acre blaze due to high wind speeds. Olfers said welders should have a “spotter” to watch for, and put out, lingering embers.

“(Sparks) not only will ignite material on the ground but will get away from you so quickly that you can’t typically stop it by yourself,” Olfers said.

Among other causes, gusts can cause power lines to slap together and shower sparks, and backyard barbecues have taken an occasional but troubling turn.

Grass Fire Prevention

Olfers said fires have occurred both on large swaths of private rural land and near residential areas. Blazes near “population centers,” or areas with more resident activity, are especially concerning.

“The size of the fire is important,” Olfers said, “but where it is is just as important.”

In addition to the possibility of displaced persons and property loss, factors like lawn maintenance make fires in these areas especially dangerous.

Fredericksburg has many small plots in residential areas that border wilderness or rural land, but do not have livestock to graze down tall grasses. Olfers said this leaves “a lot of old growth” that can catch and spread fire quickly.

“You get to an ‘urban-rural interface’ as these subdivisions (start) popping up or development starts happening,” he said. “In a lot of residential populated areas up against the wildland type areas, it becomes more critical to protect those.”

Residents can better protect their home through several practices like keeping lawns trimmed and storing firewood away from wall exteriors, Olfers said.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends mowing lawns and native grasses to a height of four inches, removing vegetation under trees, pruning tree canopies away from other trees and structures, among other practices, to help safeguard property from traveling embers.

More tips and information on grass fire safety can be found through the NFPA’s Firewise program at firewise.org.