Weather / Wildfire

Drought & wildfire.

Much of Texas swings between flood and drought - and dry years bring fast-moving fire, especially across the Panhandle and West Texas. The keys are simple: watch for fire-weather warnings, follow burn bans, and leave early.

Wildfire

Wildfire can happen in Texas in any season when dry grass, low humidity, and strong wind line up. The 2024 Smokehouse Creek Fire became the largest wildfire in recorded Texas history and showed how quickly a grass fire can outrun roads and communities.

• -Obey burn bans. Counties can restrict outdoor burning when risk is high, and the Texas A&M Forest Service posts the live map. The Forest Service says roughly 90% of wildfires are caused by people and their activities.
• -Use extreme care with anything that throws sparks during fire weather - this is the link to the Camping and Shooting hubs (campfires, equipment, and target shooting all start fires).
• -If you live in a fire-prone area, create defensible space - clear flammable brush, leaves, and woodpiles away from your home.
• -Sign up for your local alerts so an evacuation order actually reaches you in time.

During fire weather, mind anything that throws sparks - see burn-ban guidance in the Camping hub and the fire cautions in the Shooting hub.