Rains lessen severe wildfire risk, but caution still urged during clean up

By LORI COPE | East Texas Edition

Despite windy conditions, these heifers enjoy the wet weather that came to Northeast Texas on Sept. 24 from Hurricane Rita. -- Staff photo

Oct. 6, 2005 - Hurricane Rita-related rains reduced the risk of wildfire in East Texas counties, and hopes for fall weather patterns are high.

�Hurricane Rita provided enough rainfall in East Texas to relieve the persistent fire risk that has plagued East Texas for the last five months,� noted Brad Smith, Texas Forest Service fire behavior analysist, on Sept. 26.

Yet clean-up operations in the region have emergency workers worried. “Everywhere I went in East Texas Sunday (Sept. 25), you could see and smell smoke,” said Bill Rose, TFS chief regional forester. “People were busy cleaning up after the storm and burning the accumulated debris. All this outdoor burning spells trouble.”

The region experienced a cold front later in the week, which brought rain to some areas, and a break from the heat.

�Hopefully we will see fall weather patterns now, and periodic rainfall,� said Mahlon Hammetter, TFS spokesperson, on Sept. 27.

Areas that received some rain will see some green-up of grasses, but this green-up may not last long if the weather remains dry, and hot temperatures return.

� But if temperatures remain seasonally cool, slower drying times and better moisture recovery at night will occur, Hammetter said.

�� One-half inch of rainfall will produce greening in the grasses and reduce the immediate fire risk, Smith said.

� In some counties, burn bans have been lifted that were in place most of the summer. Yet some counties, particularly on the western side of the Piney Woods, got very little, if any, rainfall from Rita.�

�� Rose pointed out, though, that most East Texas counties had significant precipitation deficits prior to Hurricane Rita, and the associated high winds and high temperatures sapped much of the moisture received during the hurricane�s assault on East Texas.

The regional forester strongly advised that people fully comply with county burn bans that might still be in effect. He also suggested that residents consider options to burning debris or if a burn ban isn’t in effect, to wait for wetter conditions prior to burning storm litter.

Residents cleaning up in hurricane-ravaged areas might be able to band together to get chippers that could reduce branches and other debris into usable mulch, Rose added. Leaving brush piles in rural areas could provide habitat for wildlife.

Waiting until after access on roadways and other access routes have been cleared will also speed up possible emergency access to wildfires. 

�Substantial numbers of emergency responders and equipment have been committed to Hurricane Rita recovery operations in East Texas and our neighbors to the east in Louisiana,� said Rose. �Texans can help themselves and others who have suffered devastating losses or who are working to help our area recover from Hurricane Rita�s effects. By preventing accidental wildfires, we can help keep manpower and equipment from being diverted from recovery efforts.�