Latest news with #WarnCentralTexas
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
City, county officials warn of wildfire dangers ahead of summer
AUSTIN (KXAN) — As we near the hot summer months and May marks National Wildfire Awareness Month, Austin and Travis County officials held a press conference on Tuesday to encourage Austinites to take precautions to protect themselves and their homes from wildfires. Leaders highlighted that the number of people who could be impacted by a wildfire has increased as Austin continues to see population growth. The city has moved to fifth in the nation for the number of homes at risk of wildfire, officials said. 'Wildfires can spread incredibly fast, so we encourage people to take precautions to keep a fire from sparking,' said Austin HSEM Director Jim Redick. 'To protect against wildfires from spreading, please create a defensible space around your home by clearing brush and debris and harden your home by using or switching to non-combustible materials for fences, decks, and balconies.' A feature highlighted by officials was the 'Read, Set, Go!' program that launched in summer 2023. The program is aimed at educating the public on wildfire preparedness. Emergency messaging was also created for the program that allows those who are signed up to receive wildfire messages from Warn Central Texas. Leaders said that more than 80% of wildfires are started by people. They highlighted just a few ways that wildfires can start which include: Discarded cigarettes Improper use of an outdoor grill Unattended campfires Dragging tow trailer chains on the ground Park vehicles on tall, dry grass The press conference also discussed how susceptible a home or business is to a wildfire depending on the materials used in its construction. Officials highlighted areas of your home to consider the types of building materials used including: Balconies and decks Roofs Eaves Vents Walls and fencing Windows and doors Austin HSEM will provide additional wildfire information at its next Emergency Preparedness Pop-Up event on May 21 at the Menchchaca Branch Library from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Some Hays County residents under evacuation orders due to active wildfires
Some Hays County residents were ordered to evacuate on Tuesday due to active wildfires. As of about 5:30 p.m., evacuation orders were active for residents living within half a mile of the 4400 block of FM 150 in Kyle, according to a Facebook post from the Hays County Sheriff's Office. The post said an earlier evacuation order had been lifted for residents living within 3 miles of the 800 block of Engelke Road in Niederwald. Hays County said at about 5:30 p.m. in a post on X that "the location of the current fire in Hays County" was north of Indian Hills Trail, east of Teal Lane, west of Story Drive and north of Onion Creek. "It is currently confined within the Onion Creek area," the post said. It directed residents to the website, Hays County emergency response agencies are sending evacuation alerts through Warn Central Texas. Residents can sign up to receive alerts at The Austin Fire Department sent a few units to Hays County to assist with the fires there, said Mark Bridges, department division chief. There were no fires of concern in Travis County, Bridges said in an interview shortly after 5 p.m. Bridges said the department brought in eight additional wildland firefighter units in anticipation of the high fire risk expected Tuesday. A Red Flag Warning is in effect for the entire region through 9 p.m. due to extreme fire risk, according to the National Weather Service's Austin/San Antonio office. "Very strong wind gusts and low relative humidity will support the rapid spread and difficult suppression of any wildfires that may ignite," the office said. "Avoid activities that could cause a wildfire!" The Austin-area continues to see large amounts of dust in the sky due to the strong winds but is not under any kind of advisory. The National Weather Service in San Angelo has issued a rare Blowing Dust Advisory for the areas around Abilene. The advisory warns drivers of hazardous road conditions and reduced visibility to less than a mile. Firefighters have been working to contain a major blaze west of Johnson City that has been dubbed the Klett Fire, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service and the Blanco County Sheriff's Office. As of mid-afternoon Tuesday it spanned as much as 100 acres and was 0% contained. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Some Hays County residents under evacuation orders due to wildfire
