Extreme heat and dry weather triggers wildfires, College Station Fire Department urges caution

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) – The Brazos Valley has seen excessive heat, hitting triple-digits the last couple of days with little to no rain. The College Station Fire Department says heat and dry weather are the perfect recipe for grass or wildfires. Over the past week, over 60 wildfires have burned more than 10,000 acres across Texas. Monday, several popped up along Highway 6.

When it comes to a grass fire, CSFD says their approach is to contain it, not fight it. Captain Stuart Marrs with CSFD says grassfires thrive with extreme heat and dry weather.

“We are seeing grass fires around the state. There’s four active fires in the state. Those are in the north Texas area, and we have college station firefighters who are out there helping to control and contain those fires,” Captain Marrs said.

However, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service, almost 90 percent of fires they respond to are caused by humans.

“Anything that creates a spark so someone out welding on their fence, just doing yard work on a Saturday. It’s not always things that we think about as far as starting grass fires,” said Erin O’Connor with the Texas A&M Forest Service.

Captain Marrs says something as small as a cigarette butt can start a large fire.

“It’s becoming so dry outside, the risk of fire is going to increase,” Captain Marrs said.

And once a fire gets started, it isn’t easy to put out.

“Bring it under control using things like fire stops. The term fight fire with fire, that comes from controlling a grass fire. You’d do a backburn,” Captain Marrs said.

First responders say to be cautious and aware when using anything that can spark or ignite a fire. Even equipment like mowers, weed-eaters, and chainsaws can start wildland fires.

“You always gotta be mindful of what you’re doing and be careful when you have ignition sources out in the dry grass,” Captain Marrs said.

The Forest Service says homeowners can prevent grass fires by cleaning out their gutters and breaking up some of the vegetation around their home, like installing walkways or dirt to separate the grass from their home.