Wednesday, November 5, 1997
Recent drought and early freeze the culprits
By JERRY DANIEL REED
Senior Staff Writer
Reacting to a spate of grass fires early this week, County
Judge Lee Hamilton has declared Taylor County's third burn ban
of 1997.
Hamilton signed an emergency order Tuesday, and will ask county
commissioners to extend the ban, if need be, at a special meeting
next Tuesday.
Nick Harrison of the Texas Forest Service told commissioners
that the elements, the vegetation and the human factor are all
conducive these days to fire danger. Warm temperatures, low humidity
and gusty winds prevailed Tuesday, on top of low soil moisture
resulting from three months of little rain.
Formerly lush grass and weeds, nourished by generous spring
and early summer rains, now stand tall and dry after the drought
and an early freeze. Aggravating all these natural conditions
is an increased human presence on the land, Harrison said. For
instance, someone from the Dallas area was blamed for starting
a 2,000-acre grass fire Sunday with a campfire that got out of
hand. The blaze, which reignited Monday, burned along the Jones-Shackelford
County line near Lueders.
"I'm not picking on deer hunters - I hunt as well - but
you have more activity in the pasture and the field now,"
Harrison said, adding that some may not give as much thought to
fire safety as they need to.
Rural volunteer firefighters have battled grass fires near
Merkel in Taylor County, as well as in Jones and Shackelford counties,
in the last three days, Harrison pointed out.
Commissioners reported generally dry conditions in their precincts,
although Neil Fry said spotty rains south of the mountains have
left some south Taylor County territory around Lawn and Tuscola
in better shape.
Prior burn bans have been instituted on Feb. 6 and Oct. 7 in
Taylor County.
The order Hamilton signed Tuesday bans all burning in rural
Taylor County "outside of an enclosure which serves to contain
all flames and/or sparks."
Punishment for violation of the order is a fine of up to $1,000
or a jail term of up to 180 days, or both.
Harrison said two officials of the state forest service have
been sent here to conduct a media campaign to inform the public
of the need to play it safe with fire outdoors.
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Copyright ©1997,
Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications
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