AUSTIN (Associated Press, examiner.com, Texas Forest Service) – State officials say more than
1,000 homes and more than 100,000 acres have burned in at least 57
wildfires in Texas over the past week.
According to an online update from the Texas Forest Service (TFS), the state
agency yesterday responded to 22 new fires, including ten new large
fires. In the past seven days, TFS has responded to 181 fires. More than 700
homes have been destroyed in the past 48 hours, according to TFS.
To help raise wildfire safety awareness, Lisa Carey with examiner.com
offers the following tips for Texans:
- Sign up for notifications of emergencies in your area through the Capital Area
Council of Governments (CAPCOG) Emergency Notification System. This
service is available only to Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell,
Fayette, Hays, Lee, Llano, Travis and Williamson Counties. - Grab your hurricane
emergency kit and follow proper evacuation procedures for your
area when an evacuation is called for. - Refrain from seemingly harmless things like outdoor grilling, dragging safety
chains behind a trailer, welding and building campfires, activities that
can accidentally start a dangerous wildfire. - Do not burn on “red flag” or windy days, and think twice before burning
outdoors. - Keep your grass mowed short.
- Keep hoses where you can reach them in case of an accidental spark.
- Put flammable liquids and combustibles in a safe place and make sure they are
stored in the proper containers. - Store lighters and matches out of reach of children.
- Clear roof surfaces and gutters.
- Make sure you know the emergency exits from your home and your neighborhood.
For more information on protecting your home and property from the ravages
of wildfire, watch “Texas Wildfire,”
our 2006 video produced with the help of TFS.
