City and county officials kick off Wildfire Awareness Month

As Austin/Travis County heads into another scorching hot wildfire season, city and county leaders are sharing updates on community-wide preparedness efforts and emphasizing how individual Austinites can do their part. Local officials held a press conference on Tuesday to kick off Wildfire Awareness Month.

Austin currently ranks fifth on a list of major U.S. cities that are vulnerable to wildfire. It is the most at-risk city outside of California. In recent years, the city and county have shifted their approach to the wildfire threat. The effort now spans numerous departments and has included specialized training for firefighters, new emergency service stations in high-risk areas, accelerated vegetation management around the city, updates to the Community Wildfire Protection Plan, and regional simulations and exercises.

Many Austin-area homes are located in the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) — an area where human development crosses into more vegetative wildland. In 2020, the City Council adopted a nationally-recognized Wildland-Urban Interface Code to protect buildings and homes in higher-risk zones.

Last month, the Austin City Council approved updates to the map of the WUI area. 51 percent of Austin’s habitable land is now in an area of elevated risk. Winds can carry embers for up to a mile and a half which means homes in Austin’s urban core are also susceptible to wildfire. This searchable database shows the wildfire risk for specific addresses.

During the press conference, speakers emphasized that the city and county are ready for the wildfire threat, but Austinites each bear a personal responsibility to bolster these efforts.

“We are still in drought conditions,” said Mayor Kirk Watson. “As we experienced very vividly over the past few years…weather is intensifying due to climate change, and we have to change how we prepare for these emergencies.”

“One of the most important things you can do is to create what we call a defensible space around your home,” said Travis County Judge Andy Brown. Commissioner Ann Howard encouraged Austinites to do this by following the “3 Cs”: checking their property for fire risk, clearing away fuels for fires (dry leaves, tall grass, wood piles, etc.), and communicating with neighbors about shared risk along property lines. Residents can also request a free home Structure Ignition Zone Evaluation from the Austin Fire Department here.

“Taking simple steps can make a big difference,” said David Wilson, Fire Chief with Travis County Emergency Services District 9. “We encourage you to sign up for emergency alerts at WarnCentralTexas.org. We want you to identify multiple evacuation routes from your home and work and have a go bag ready.” The Austin-Travis County Wildfire Coalition has published a “Ready, Set, Go” guide with information on packing an emergency kit and planning an evacuation.

“The message is: ‘prepare now,’” said Jeff Kennedy, an Assistant Chief with the Austin Fire Department (AFD). He emphasized that all Austin neighborhoods have some level of wildfire risk: “On the east side of I-35, we have predominantly flat (land) and grasslands. On the west side, we have rolling hills and trees. But both of those environments…can allow a wildfire to thrive.”

Kennedy recommended covering vents and attic spaces with mesh and keeping trees trimmed at least eight feet away from any structure. He noted that AFD’s Wildfire Division is also available to speak at neighborhood meetings or community events by request.

Speakers emphasized the importance of monitoring fire weather (dry air and strong winds are the most dangerous conditions) and burn bans online. Updates are posted to the Austin-Area Wildfire Hub. Parking on dry grass, dragging chains or other items on the grass behind vehicles, and improperly disposing of cigars or cigarettes can be especially dangerous during times of elevated fire risk. Austinites should dial 911 if they see smoke or flames, and must be prepared to comply with evacuation orders if necessary.

Former Council Member Alison Alter cautioned that it was a matter of ‘when’ not ‘if’ wildfire comes to Austin. Speakers at the press conference echoed this sentiment. County Commissioner Brigid Shea described the recent Palisades Fire in California as a “wake up call” for our community.

“Wildfire in Central Texas is unique,” said Mayor Watson. “With our unique vegetation, topography, and climate, our wildfire risk is fundamentally different here.”

 

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