Homeowners at the ready for another dry wildfire season
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Even with spring’s rainy weather, some parts of Central Texas haven't seen significant rain in nearly two months, and the risk of wildfires is rising.
The latest assessment of drought conditions shows Central Texas is still very dry, with parts of Williamson County slipping back into extreme drought status.
"All the nice pretty brush that we had in the spring is starting to dry out quite a bit,” Fire Marshal Daniel Berger said. “As a result, we're seeing quite a few more brush fires and wildfires."
And after last year’s devastating wildfires, the threat only seems more real this season, but Travis County Fire Marshals say area residents have become more aware of the dangers.
"One of the best things that we're seeing is a number of people calling in with concerns and complaints," Berger said. “It’s created almost a vigilant attitude among some of the citizens in Travis County."
Fire experts say we should prepare for wildfire danger like we would for a hurricane. They say the first priority should be the home. There's even an app to assess your risk.
"You can defend your home from just about anything if you can get 30 to 100 feet of defense," Wildlife Mitigation Coordinator Kenneth Humphries said.
Travis County offers a free home wildfire risk assessment. For more information, click here.