Fire chief: No burning allowed
Stephens County is under a high fire danger, and Breckenridge Fire Department Fire Chief Calvin Chaney said burning will not be allowed in the county.
Between Friday and Monday afternoon, the BFD had responded to more than 20 fires, including one that destroyed a barn.
Today’s temperature is expected to be in the 90s, and wind gusts are predicted to reach 30 miles per hour. The Texas A&M Forest Service has designated this area as a “high fire danger” for today, Tuesday, April 17. According to the Forest Service website, “When the fire danger is high, fires can start easily from most causes, and small fuels (such as grasses and needles) will ignite readily. Unattended campfires and brush fires are likely to escape. Fires will spread easily, with some areas of high-intensity burning on slopes or concentrated fuels. Fires can become serious and difficult to control unless they are put out while they are still small.”
Much of the western part of the state is under “extreme fire danger,” and firefighters were battling several fires on Monday.
Not only has the local fire chief banned all burning, but according to the Forest Service, “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.”
The Forest Service makes the following recommendations:
- 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.
For more, non-emergency information, call the Breckenridge Fire Department at 254-559-6242. In case of an emergency, call 9-1-1 immediately.
Cutline, top photo: Breckenridge and area firefighters have responded to more than 20 fires since Friday, including the barn pictured here that was engulfed in flames. (Photo courtesy of Breckenridge Fire Department)
