The Texas A&M Forest Service raised its state wildfire preparedness status to Level 4, as a result of the recent increase in wildfire activity across the state, as well as the potential for wildfires to become more severe and harder to control in the days ahead.
A Level 4 is indicative of a high volume of wildfires, including large fires and specifically, wildfires that are difficult to control. A Level 5 status–the highest available–would mean that conditions in the state would support large and complicated wildfire incidents, requiring heavy resource commitment, particularly for local wildfires.
A&M Forest Service Fire Chief and Associate Director of Forest Resource Protection Wes Moorehead announced the level change this week. The Oak Grove Fire in Hays County over this past weekend burned 400 acres, destroying one residence, and what is now called the Parmer Lane Fire in Travis County, destroyed portions of an apartment complex in the Cedar Park area late Tuesday.
