Texas Forest Service Continues Fighting Fires
By: Jamie Kuras
Updated: April 7, 2011
MIDLAND -- The Texas Forest Service says that roughly 280,000 acres have burned across the state this year -- and it's still not over.
By this time last year, the Texas Forest Service responded to 149 fires that burned 5,221 acres. That acreage is only about 2 percent of what has been burned to this point this year.
The main reasons for these fires: drought and wind.
The Texas Forest Service says that the dry line has been established well east of Midland. Anywhere west of that line can expect very dry conditions and strong winds.
Many people believe that along with the dry grass, mesquite helps spread the fire quickly. But a local gardener disagrees.
"The mesquite isn't dead," said Garden View GM Jorge Hernandez Jr. "The grass is dead from the dryness. The roots are still alive. The mesquite on the other hand, it's a deciduous tree. So the inside of it is still alive. It's really hard to burn it. So that's not actually whats propagating the flame since it is still alive.
Still, those fires burn very quickly and people need to know what to do in case one is close to their house.
High winds and red flag warnings are expected to last until at least Sunday. That means that you need to be extra careful when burning anything or using any equipment that may create a spark.
By this time last year, the Texas Forest Service responded to 149 fires that burned 5,221 acres. That acreage is only about 2 percent of what has been burned to this point this year.
The main reasons for these fires: drought and wind.
The Texas Forest Service says that the dry line has been established well east of Midland. Anywhere west of that line can expect very dry conditions and strong winds.
Many people believe that along with the dry grass, mesquite helps spread the fire quickly. But a local gardener disagrees.
"The mesquite isn't dead," said Garden View GM Jorge Hernandez Jr. "The grass is dead from the dryness. The roots are still alive. The mesquite on the other hand, it's a deciduous tree. So the inside of it is still alive. It's really hard to burn it. So that's not actually whats propagating the flame since it is still alive.
Still, those fires burn very quickly and people need to know what to do in case one is close to their house.
High winds and red flag warnings are expected to last until at least Sunday. That means that you need to be extra careful when burning anything or using any equipment that may create a spark.
