Austin Fire Department is warning residents that Austin and the surrounding area “will be in the ‘VERY HIGH’ fire danger risk category” for, at a minimum, the early part of the week. The risk, according to a Facebook post from the department, is caused by a combination of dry fuels, dry air and windy conditions. AFD asks that everyone does their part while the conditions persist, saying, “Please: no outdoor burning, avoid parking on dry grass, if you’ve got chains attached to your vehicle make sure they’re not dragging, and for goodness sake, properly dispose of cigarette butts (no tossing them out of car windows)!!” The Austin-Area Wildfire Hub confirms that the risk for the region remains elevated, and has more information about burn bans, active fire incidents, statewide conditions and ways to reduce fire risk.
Elizabeth Pagano is the editor of the Austin Monitor. More by Elizabeth Pagano