Athens Review, Athens, Texas

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November 9, 2007

Breezy conditions causing fires

By Rich Flowers

Dry weather and breezy conditions have stepped up the number of grass fires in the area in November.

The Caney City Fire Deparment was summoned to a blaze on Farm to Market Road 1214 Wednesday to battle the largest fire of the day. Other fires were reported in Payne Springs and Poynor. On Tuesday, the list of fires in the county was longer. They included an unusual structure fire beside U.S. Highway 175. Half of a vacant double-wide mobil home that had been left at the location burned and was totally destroyed.

Falling leaves and dying vegetation have been getting increasingly dry over the past two weeks. The last signifigant rainfall in the county came Oct. 22, when .55 inches was recorded. There had been no rainfall prior to that since Oct. 15th. Only three rains were reported in October, usually one of the wettest months for the county.

Monday, the Texas Forest Service released its winter fire outlook. During the last five winters when La Nina conditions were present there were above average numbers of fire events. In three of those, severe fire conditions were reported.

The report said the combination of an abundance of available fuel combined with the expected warmer and drier-than-normal weather pattern increases the concern for the potential of the winter 2008 fire season. During the past several weeks, Texas has entered a drying trend and most of the state is well below normal.

The service reminds Texans not to get complacent when it comes to fire danger even though there has been more rain than a year ago.

Last year County Judge David Holstein and the Commissioners Court were already monitoring the conditions week to week to determine if a burn ban was warranted. October 2006 began with a ban in effect which was lifted after sufficient rainfall fell to relieve the danger.

The National Wildfire Coordinating Council reports firefighters battling the grass and brush fires face several difficulties not associated with fires inside a structure. They include;

• an unlimited supply of oxygen;

• a lack of a nearby municipal water supply;

• an abundance of fuel, softwoods, hardwoods, shrubs and brush; and

• wind, low humidity and lack of precipitation.

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