Drought conditions creeping into Southeast Texas much earlier than last year.
Current Conditions and Fire Activity
We are currently experiencing mild to moderate drought conditions throughout Montgomery County and Southeast Texas. Montgomery County currently has an average Keetch Byram Drought Index (KBDI) of 461. The driest areas are located in East Montgomery County where reading as high as 497 have been recorded. We did not reach these levels until the middle of June in 2009, a year in which we saw a severe drought throughout the summer.
Southeast Texas had been experiencing a decrease in the number of fires as our annual spring green up began, however Summer drought conditions appear to be coming to our area earlier than normal. Without significant rainfall, conditions will worsen drastically over the coming days and weeks as temperatures begin to climb.
Analysis of dispatch and incident records, indicate that the majority of wildfires are caused by outdoor burning throughout the year, while spikes in wildfire activity occur when drought conditions coincide with holidays such as July 4th.
A number of common factors exist that explain the increased fire activity during this same period each year, although some conditions are more pronounced this year.
- Large amounts of readily ignited fuels, (dying vegetation). Rain early this year allowed a spring green up, and those plants and grasses are now rapidly losing moisture. In addition, dead winter grasses and drying fuels such as pine straw will contribute to both the number and intensity of fires in our area.
- High winds and low humidity associated with passing cold fronts trigger “Red Flag” weather conditions that dramatically increase both the number and severity of wildfires. No burning should occur when a warning is issued.
- Fireworks – The link between fireworks and the increased number of wildfires around the July 4th Holiday is apparent due to the increase during the holiday. Many fireworks related fires will occur in the evening whereas the vast majority of wildfires ignited by outdoor burning normally occur in early afternoon hours.
- Outdoor Burning – Outdoor burning is by far the most common cause of wildfires in Montgomery County.
A primary source of concern is the presence of dry windy conditions that constitute “Red Flag” weather conditions. Red Flag conditions are based on the amount of moisture present in wildfire fuels as well as wind and relative humidity. Generally Red Flag conditions exist in our area when relative humidity reaches 25% or lower and wind speeds exceed 15 mph. These conditions normally do not occur this time of year except during the passing of weather fronts.
Conclusions / Recommendations
Although there are is not an outdoor burning ban in Montgomery County at this time, there has been an increase in the number of wildfires in Montgomery County.
The current number of fires does not meet the established criteria for implementation of a Ban on Outdoor Burning, but some steps can be taken to reduce the risk of wildfires:
1. County Residents and Officials should closely monitor current weather conditions.
2. County Residents should refrain from burning until conditions improve, and should not burn for any reason during the presence of “Red Flag” or “Fire Weather Watch” conditions.
3. Any resident who chooses to burn should first make sure that the type of burning they want to do is legal. For example: State law prohibits burning of household garbage on less than 5 acres or in a subdivision in Montgomery County. State air quality regulations prohibit businesses from burning at all times.
For more information contact the Montgomery County Fire Marshal’s Office at (936) 538-8288. You can also email mcfmo@mctx.org or go to our website at
http://www.mctx.org/fire/index.shtml
Written Information on Outdoor Burning is also available at the Fire Marshal’s Office and at each local Fire Department.
Links:
Texas Forest Service
http://txforestservice.tamu.edu/main/default.aspx
National Weather Service
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/hgx/
