Even With Recent Moisture, Lubbock County Still in Wildfire Danger
By: Michaela MacDonald
Updated: March 13, 2013
With a blizzard just a few weeks ago you may be thinking Lubbock County is safe from wildfires, but the Texas A&M Forest Service says the danger is still real.
"A common misconception is snowfall is moisture, but it really takes 10-12 inches of snow to make an inch of true moisture into the ground," said Regional Coordinator Justin Musgraves.
He says even with recent moisture, Lubbock County isn't out of the woods for wildfires.
"You add the wind on top of that it causes snow drifts, so most of the snow was localized to certain areas in your city or county," said Musgraves.
Musgraves says the moisture didn't sink in to the places we need it most.
"The biggest thing to remember right now is that dead grass and dead fuels don't soak up any of that moisture so the first warm days, the first windy days that moisture is gone and we are right back into a dangerous situation," he said.
But in the event of a wildfire, Musgraves says Lubbock has 53 firefighters trained to use a special wildfire truck.
"Be quick to call 911 when there is a fire and let those trained professionals take care of it for you," he said.
And he says you can do your part at preventing wildfires. A few tips include: avoid driving or parking on dry grass, never throw a lit cigarette out the window, and be careful when using anything with a spark outdoors.
"Somewhere around 94% of fires are started by humans be it smoking, cooking, welding things like that," said Musgraves.
While today's fire danger is only moderate, Musgraves says in the next few days fire danger will rise as the temperatures get up into the 80s.
"A common misconception is snowfall is moisture, but it really takes 10-12 inches of snow to make an inch of true moisture into the ground," said Regional Coordinator Justin Musgraves.
He says even with recent moisture, Lubbock County isn't out of the woods for wildfires.
"You add the wind on top of that it causes snow drifts, so most of the snow was localized to certain areas in your city or county," said Musgraves.
Musgraves says the moisture didn't sink in to the places we need it most.
"The biggest thing to remember right now is that dead grass and dead fuels don't soak up any of that moisture so the first warm days, the first windy days that moisture is gone and we are right back into a dangerous situation," he said.
But in the event of a wildfire, Musgraves says Lubbock has 53 firefighters trained to use a special wildfire truck.
"Be quick to call 911 when there is a fire and let those trained professionals take care of it for you," he said.
And he says you can do your part at preventing wildfires. A few tips include: avoid driving or parking on dry grass, never throw a lit cigarette out the window, and be careful when using anything with a spark outdoors.
"Somewhere around 94% of fires are started by humans be it smoking, cooking, welding things like that," said Musgraves.
While today's fire danger is only moderate, Musgraves says in the next few days fire danger will rise as the temperatures get up into the 80s.
