| Fires have been with Texas forever - long before it | | | | Two years ago, Texas fire departments reported |
| became a state - and fires will be part of the ecology | | | | 95,971 residential fires – that was one fire about |
| long after we’re gone. | | | | once every 5 minutes – 24 hours a day! The fires |
| Historical records suggest that Texas was largely | | | | resulted in 179 civilian deaths. 7888 civilian injuries, and |
| covered in grasslands prior to western settlements. | | | | over $470 million dollars in property lost. |
| Periodic fires sparked by lightning, dry conditions, or | | | | In the Texas Fire Incident Reporting System, a total |
| native Americans kept the trees limited to the wetter | | | | of 1,368,080 fires were reported with many more |
| portions of the east Texas and near regular watering | | | | thought to be not reported! James Hull, the TFS |
| holes where animals kept grasses grazed down. | | | | Director, stated that during 2006, more acres in Texas |
| Since Texas has been settled, wild fires have been | | | | burned than the sum total of acres burned previously |
| suppressed by man and seen in a negative light. This | | | | in his entire career of more than 30 years of service. |
| suppression has been to our advantage in many ways | | | | As a single arborist, there isn’t much one can do |
| and against our advantage in others. Protecting homes | | | | about large-scale fires. However, we can by starting |
| and livestock and controlling our environment have | | | | with everyone more aware of fire conditions and what |
| been largely beneficial for everyone. But allowing fuel | | | | they can do to make their houses more defensible in |
| to build up to the point that it has (especially since last | | | | the event of a fire. Clearing the brush and tall grasses |
| year’s rainfall) is now a very dangerous situation. | | | | away from houses and out buildings, raising low limbs |
| As I write this today, a total of 183, 735 acres burned | | | | of trees, removing deadwood and flammable |
| yesterday alone. That amount of land going up in | | | | understory plants – all things that will help each |
| smoke in a single day staggers the imagination. | | | | house be a little more defensible in the event of a |
| We’ve just had a cold front blow thorugh with | | | | wildfire. |
| winds in the 20 to 30 mph range and gusts to 50 mph. | | | | To get your community involved, go this web site for |
| Following last year’s record rainfall and a significant | | | | more information on how to become a FireWise |
| beginning to a drought this last winter, Texas is set up | | | | Community. |
| for another very active fire season. | | | | |