Fire threat prompts a disaster declaration in Tarrant County. What that means for us.
Tarrant County is now under a disaster declaration for wildfires.
After fires swept across North Texas in recent days, destroying thousands of acres and dozens of homes, Judge Glen Whitley signed the emergency declaration Friday.
Tarrant County Fire Marshall Randy Renois said the declaration is one-part preemptive — putting everything in place to respond to more wildfires — and one-part about raising awareness.
A burn ban was put into effect in June when the drought index, which measures in increasing values the severity of drought, was at 735. Now that number is reaching the limit.
“We’re getting close to 800, and after 800 I don’t know,” Renois said. “It only goes to 800.”
All of Tarrant County is under extreme or exceptional drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. “Exceptional” drought conditions mean the possibility of widespread crop losses, livestock deaths, high fire danger and potential water shortages.
North Texas could see rain going into this weekend, but it would not be enough to erase wildfire risks. The last rainfall measured by official gauges here was June 3, and temperatures have topped 100 degrees for more than 30 days.
Fort Worth saw at least 362 grass fires between July 5-18. The official Fourth of July fireworks show lasted only nine minutes because it ignited the banks of the Trinity River.
Wildfires across other parts of the county and areas outside it have scorched thousands more acres. As of Thursday, Texas A&M Forest Service firefighters responded to 13 new wildfires that burned approximately 446 acres across the state.
The recent wildfire at Possum Kingdom Lake, which was started when the sun was magnified by glass bottles in a trashcan, burned through nearly 460 acres and destroyed five homes. Another wildfire in Somervell County at Chalk Mountain burned more than 6,700 acres and wiped out 16 homes; as of Thursday, it was two-thirds contained. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott declared a disaster declaration.
“The magnitude of the potential damage and the rapidity with which such a fire could escalate to major proportions constitute an imminent threat of disaster; and has been experienced in Tarrant County previously,” a release from the county states.
The declaration could open up the county to financial reimbursement and assistance, but the state and county would still need to be at a certain fiscal threshold to qualify for funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, according to the release.
Renois said the declaration will make it easier for Tarrant County to get help and money from the state and federal government — and get it quicker, in the case those thresholds for damage are met.
Because the county is already under a burn ban, Renois said, the declaration does not add any new restrictions on burning in Tarrant County. But it will help underscore the severity of conditions in the area.
Fire departments in Tarrant County have been responding to municipal fires, as well as fires in Tarrant and neighboring counties. Unless people pay attention and do their part to prevent wildfires, it’s just a matter of time before one in the county causes significant damaged, Renois said.
Statewide, 97% of Texas is under some level of drought.
This story was originally published July 29, 2022 at 4:28 PM.
