MASON COUNTY, Texas (Nexstar) — The Texas Division of Emergency Management announced it is sending out additional wildfire resources to western parts of the state due to an increased risk in wildfire activity on Monday.
The Texas A&M Forest Service identified extreme wildfire risks for parts of the Hill Country, West Texas, the Permian Basin, South Plains, and the Panhandle. The service provides a fire risk map on its website that highlights dozens of counties at a heightened risk.
“Texans are urged to avoid activities that cause sparks and follow instructions from local emergency officials. Please join me in thanking the first responders working around the clock to protect life and property during this holiday season,” said Texas Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd.
The support being sent to local fire departments across the state includes 35 pieces of equipment, including fire engines and bulldozers, nine federally contracted firefighting aircraft and 160 firefighters and personnel through the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System.
The Mason County Commissioners Court issued a 90-day burn ban on Monday in response to the heightened risk. The entire county is shaded in the “extreme” risk category according to the Texas A&M Forest Service website.
Mason County is no stranger to the dangers of fire. In August this year, the North Art Complex fire burned 4,300 acres and even the county courthouse was burned down by an act of arson in 2021.
Mason County Judge Sheree Hardin said the tragedies have given officials the experience to take on the next fire.
“It’s very important to stay calm and collected, and just utilize our resources and our men and women,” Hardin explained. The county has two active volunteer fire departments with a third one in the works. In Mason, there are 39 members a part of the volunteer fire department.
The volunteer fire chief, Brandon Neece, said the department has 11 trucks with 18,000 gallons of water capacity. He said they rely on equipment from the state during dangerous brush fires because of the terrain in rural Texas.
“They’ve got dozers and maintainers readily available, already loaded up — just need to be dispatched out. Lot of the country in Mason County is real real rough where you can’t get a truck like this in and around,” Neece explained.
New Year’s Eve pose a threat
Officials in Mason County and the Texas A&M Forest Service said fireworks are a huge threat as Texans get ready to celebrate ringing in the new year. Mike Dunivan, the area operation chief for Texas A&M Forest Service, said fires from fireworks could overwhelm local firefighting resources.
The Mason County burn ban prohibits fireworks, and officials there hope people follow the rules. “Be smart and have a little common sense. Common sense can go a long ways,” Neece said.
