As the scorching heat continues to blast down on Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott is preparing for the worst: wildfires.
Gov. Abbott called for over 350 Texas firefighters to be on standby and collect equipment amid the growing threat of wildfires.
Last week, Texas saw more than 60 fires burn across 10,000 acres statewide. The Texas A&M Forestry Service raised its wildland fire preparedness to Level Three.
The wildland fire preparedness levels range from one to five. Level Three is enacted when “wildfire activity is impacting several regions of the state as the result of drought, dry vegetation, or frequent fire weather events,” per Texas A&M Forestry Service.
At Level Three, additional equipment is deployed to areas at high risk. If necessary, resources from other states can also be brought into Texas.
“As the state continues to endure triple-digit temperatures and dry vegetation, Texas is deploying additional firefighting resources to assist communities that have increased wildfire activity,” said Abbott in a press release.
“Texans are strongly urged to take all necessary precautions and heed the guidance of state and local officials to keep their families and their loved ones safe from wildfires. I thank the Texas Division of Emergency Management and local emergency management personnel for their work as they prepare for potential wildfires across the state,” he said.
Wildfire activity is expected to increase in North and Northwest Texas, with an expanding risk towards East and Central Texas.
Abbott has called upon Texas A&M Forest Service, the Texas National Guard, and the Texas Department of State Health Services to come together to support wildfire response operations.
Texas A&M Forest Service will prepare over 100 pieces of equipment, including fire engines, bulldozers, aircraft, and two fire bosses for water drops. The Texas National Guard will supply four Blackhawk helicopters with firefighting capability, and the Texas Department of State Health Services will bring paramedics, ambulances, and all-terrain vehicles.
The State of Texas requested additional aircraft assistance from the federal government, but recent requests have not been answered due to a lack of aircraft availability.
Dallas County recently logged its first heat-related death of the summer as temperatures soared. The victim was a 79-year-old Dallas resident.
Last summer, Texas Fire Service was bombarded with wildfires across the state, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
Texans are advised to limit activities that cause sparks, make an emergency plan, and keep emergency supplies available in case of any fire activity.