Monday evening, Travis County Judge Andy Brown signed a Declaration of Local Disaster due to the National Weather Service forecasting dangerous extreme fire weather conditions on Tuesday. Under the Disaster Declaration, a Burn Ban is in effect for all areas of Travis County, including areas within city limits. The City of Austin has an ordinance prohibiting open burning, and Austin Parks and Recreation enacted a burn restriction in its parks that remains in effect.  The public is urged to be extra cautious and follow the City’s ordinance, as well as the Travis County burn ban. 

The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and its Storm Prediction Center has placed Central Texas under an extreme fire weather warning, meaning that if a wildfire were to spark it would spread very quickly. With sustained winds of 20-25 mph expected on Tuesday and gusts up to 50 mph, the threat of wildfires spreading is very real and serious.

Please take precautions to avoid starting a wildfire and take measures to protect your home.

• Avoid using charcoal grills and smokers in windy conditions. Embers can be blown away and spark a wildfire.
• Check to ensure tow chains on trailers are not dragging on the ground. Sparks on the road from dragging chains can start a wildfire that can quickly spread.
• Do not throw cigarette butts or cigars out of your vehicle. This can start a wildfire in the grass along the road.
• Do not park your vehicle on grass. Heat from your engine can spark a wildfire in these dry conditions.
• Clean out gutters on your home. Embers can be picked up by the wind and blown more than a mile away. Dried leaves and debris in your gutters may catch fire.
• Remove any brush, debris, or other flammable materials around your home to create a defensible space. 
• If a wildfire starts, have an emergency supply kit ready in case you need to evacuate your home.

Follow official City accounts on social media for updates and more safety tips regarding wildfire. Stay up to date on weather forecasts by following the National Weather Service San Antonio-Austin division on social media as well as your preferred local news outlet.

Austin ranks sixth in the nation in number of homes at risk of wildfire. This threat is serious and the community should take steps to prevent wildfires from sparking. Recent dry conditions have created an environment with many fuel sources for wildfires.

More information will be provided from the City of Austin as necessary. Stay tuned to your local news for further weather updates.

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