Disaster Declaration Covers 191 Texas Counties as Heat and Dryness Fuel Wildfire Risk

Almost every county in Texas has been placed under a state disaster declaration due to the combination of extreme summer heat, parched vegetation, and strong winds, which significantly heighten the threat of wildfires.

On Tuesday afternoon, Gov. Greg Abbott made a significant announcement, declaring a state of emergency that encompasses 191 counties. This declaration mobilizes state firefighting crews, bulldozers, helicopters, and various other resources to assist local authorities in their efforts. In a decisive response, authorities have issued an order after a two-and-a-half-week period marked by the outbreak of over a dozen wildfires throughout Texas, as reported by the Texas A&M Forest Service.

In a surprising turn of events, the state is currently experiencing minimal fire activity, with only one wildfire reported as of Wednesday. Officials are closely monitoring this solitary blaze in Palo Pinto County, located west of Fort Worth.

The Texas Division of Emergency Management's spokesperson, Seth Ballard, stated that risk assessments from the Texas A&M Forest Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration prompted the declaration. 

In the height of wildfire season, disaster declarations have become a familiar occurrence, with similar circumstances prompting such actions in each of the last two years.

Abbott’s office reported that a combination of extreme heat, dry vegetation, and strong winds has created conditions that could quickly escalate fire spread across various areas. A memo from the governor’s office highlighted that fire behavior metrics have surpassed “critical thresholds,” leading agencies to elevate their readiness levels.

In the wake of a disaster, declarations empower the state to circumvent specific regulations, mobilize aircraft and specialized teams, and orchestrate efforts among the Texas Division of Emergency Management, Texas A&M Forest Service, and the National Guard. The orders may be renewed monthly and will remain in place until the threat of fire diminishes.

Despite the expectation of limited significant fire potential this week, experts are forecasting ongoing dry conditions that are likely to persist throughout the summer.

In a recent development, the Houston area has seen no reports of wildfires in the past three weeks. 

In March, the Sam Houston National Forest was engulfed by a significant fire that spanned nearly 2,400 acres, leading to mandatory evacuations and the closure of schools in the area. In a dramatic turn of events last month, a lightning strike ignited a fire that rapidly spread across 160 acres of a bird sanctuary in Port Bolivar.

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