It was Labor Day weekend and many Texans celebrated what traditionally marks the end of the summer. However, on this year's holiday, many could not celebrate as they normally would. For over a month the temperature rose above 100 degrees causing many to stay indoors under the comfort of air conditioning. For all those that normally would have taken to the lake, conditions were not in their favor. According to the Lower Colorado River Authority, from October 2010 to July 2011 it has been the driest period in Texas since rainfall records began to be kept back in 1895. As the months continued, rain still has not come as it has been needed. The water levels in many lakes created hazardous conditions for boaters and authorities had to close down the boat ramps. Many popular restaurants on the lake shut their doors all together due to the drought. Under these conditions of such persistent heat and dryness it comes as no surprise that wildfires would find a welcome breeding ground. According to the Texas Forest Service there are now 250 out of 254 Texas counties to have issued burn bans. By their observations, the vast majority of fires were set by people, mostly in cases of arson, though some accidentally as well. In an effort to weigh in on the matter whilst staying busy focusing on his presidential bid outside the state, Governor Rick Perry has recognized the arson problem and has called for the Texas State Legislature to increase the maximum prison term for arson from 30 years to life.
So far this year there have been well over 10,000 fires in Texas. By mid April it was up to 8,000 and by late June nearly 13,000. According to Texas Forest Service reporting up to September 2 there has now been over 18,612 fires in the state with 3,486,124 acres burned. Thousands upon thousands of homes have been lost and so far there are two confirmed casualties. Right now as the fires continue to burn throughout the state, with the Bastrop fires near Austin being among the largest, a state-wide search and rescue operation is in effect with officers moving from house to house to estimate the damage and look for additional casualties. After hearing of the two deaths, Governor Perry deployed the elite search and rescue unit Texas Task Force 1 to join the search. Nearly every year parts of Texas experience drought-like conditions and counties throughout the state issue burn bans as a precaution against wildfires. To date the highest number of burn bans throughout the state was in 2006 when it was set at 221. This year nearly every single county has issued one. Many climatologists have examined the situation in Texas to see the makings of a perfect storm as it applies to the requisites for wildfires. Added to the historic drought conditions and low humidity come the high winds of Tropical Storm Lee. All it needs is a match to be thrown to start an uncontainable fire, and it seems that many arsonists have been more than willing to do just that.
So far there has been a full court press coming from all relevant local, state and federal agencies, according to the Texas Forest Service. After over $5 billion in damages, over 3,000 homes and structures lost over the last year and 5000 homes evacuated, many agencies are stepping in to stop the blaze. President Barack Obama has tasked the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the U.S. Forest Service to provide direct support to Texas. Moreover, at Governor Perry's request, Texas has received eight federally funded Fire Management Assistance Grants to help pay the costs of the firefighting. So far for 2011, this makes 53 such grants to the state of Texas and allows FEMA to pay 75 percent of state and local government firefighting costs. This money is allocated through the President's Disaster Relief Fund.
While the damage continues to spread, there does appear to be some relief as some of the larger fires in Bastrop have been marginally contained. The year of 2011 has set numerous records in the area of fires and firefighting. Out of 254 counties, the Texas Forest Service has fought wildfires in 199. The most gallons of water and retardant dropped in firefighting efforts on record occurred on 1 September 2011 with 1,188,883 gallons. While there are no doubt larger issues regarding state preparation for drought and wildfires, or even long-term considerations of climate change, it does appear that progress is being made in the here and now with stopping the fires.
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