April 16, 2018 — COLLEGE STATION, Texas — There is
high probability of a significant wildfire outbreak in West Texas and the
Panhandle Tuesday, April 17 with elevated to critical wildfire conditions
present today.
The areas of concern include Amarillo, Ft. Stockton,
and Midland/Odessa.
“With these conditions wildfires can spread rapidly,
present control issues for firefighters and pose a real threat to public
safety,” said Texas A&M Forest Service Fire Chief Mark Stanford. “The
Southern Plains Wildfire Outbreaks can be extremely dangerous if a wildfire
occurs, it is important that you heed any wildfire warnings from local
officials.”
Increased fire activity is a concern due to expected high
wind speeds combining with above normal seasonal temperatures, low relative
humidity and a dry line — a boundary that separates moist air mass from dry air
— forming over the region.
Follow your local meteorologist or the National
Weather Service for weather updates.
Texas A&M Forest Service is monitoring the
situation closely and is working with local response departments as we
preposition state resources, along with continued staffing of Single Engine Air
Tanker bases in Amarillo, Childress, Abilene and Fort Stockton as well as heavy
jet air tankers staged in Abilene. The Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System
has been activated.
With elevated fire danger, caution should be used with
any outdoor activity that may cause a spark. It only takes one spark to start a
wildfire.
- Postpone outdoor burning until conditions
improve.
- Avoid parking and idling in tall, dry
grass. Catalytic converters can get hot enough to ignite the grass under a
vehicle.
- Avoid setting hot chainsaws or other hot,
gas-powered equipment in dry grass.
- Wildfires burning in grass can spread and
grow extremely fast. It is important that if you spot a wildfire you report it
immediately to local authorities. A quick response can help save lives and
property.
Visit tfsweb.tamu.edu/currentsituation, or follow
@allhazardstfs on Twitter for Texas wildfire information.
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Texas A&M Forest Service Contacts:
April Phillips, Panhandle Region Public Information
Officer, 512-581-2346
Kari Hines, State Public Information Officer, 512-375-0354,
khines@tfs.tamu.edu
Texas A&M Forest Service Communications Office,
979-458-6606; newsmedia@tfs.tamu.edu