Reporter-News Archives Sunday, March 7, 1999 Wildfires-- Forest service is establishing staging area in Abilene By DIRK FILLPOT Staff Writer The Texas Forest Service will establish a fire fighting staging area in Abilene this week to battle wildfires in the Big Country. Abilene’s central location is a strategic hub for the fire service if large fires break out in the area, said Lou Sloat, the service’s information officer. “Abilene offers a lot of good resources to us,” Sloat said. “It’s always good to come back to a place where you can count on those resources that we need to carry out our duties. “This part of the Big Country is in a very high to extreme fire danger.” Twenty-eight area counties currently have burn bans. Several more are expected to join suit soon, he said. “Everything west of the (Inter-state highway) 35 corridor has been experiencing low humidity and abnormally high temperatures and strong winds,” Sloat said. The scarce rainfall this year, compounded by last year’s drought, has brought the area to a flash point, he said. “March is classical out here for having good winds,” he said. A cold front pushing through the area today is the cause of the extreme wildfire danger conditions, he said. Winds are forecast to gust up to 25 mph, according to the National Weather Service. He said four fires have burned 2,000 acres in the area in the past three weeks. Most of the fires are sparked by burning debris and trash and from discarded cigarettes, he said. Using power tools or welding equipment near tall grass is also a fire hazard. Sloat estimates 10 people will staff the Abilene staging center. He said a firefighting dozer, a multi-engine fixed-wing airplane and maybe two Blackhawk helicopters will be stationed in Abilene. The airplane will carry water and fire retardant, he said. The forest service operated a suppression force in Abilene that left in October because rainfalls lowered the fire danger. “Naturally, as the fire danger grows, so will the personnel,” Sloat said. Dirk Fillpot can be reached at 676-6738 or by e-mail at fillpotd@abinews.com Send a Letter to the Editor about This Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story Send the URL (Address) of This Story to A Friend: Enter their email address below:  texnews.com Reporter OnLine Local News Texas News Copyright ©1999, Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications