Austin Mayor Kirk Watson and Travis County Judge Andy on Thursday each issued a “preemptive” disaster declaration in response to Governor Greg Abbott doing so at the state level. With no measurable rain in more than 40 days, Austin and Travis County are at severe risk of wildfires spreading, officials said.
“Austin ranks sixth in the nation for number of homes at risk of wildfire,” Watson said. “With that in mind, and taking into consideration the heightened risk we face due to dry conditions, I am hereby declaring the City of Austin to be in a state of disaster for wildfires. This will allow our public safety staff to begin tracking expenses accrued and expedite the reimbursement from the federal or state government in the event a wildfire should occur during this declaration.”
According to Watson, the early declaration makes tracking resources and personnel used in mitigation, response, and recovery efforts easier and fast-tracks the reimbursement request process from state and federal agencies.
The city provided some tips on how to mitigate the risk of wildfires:
- Do not park or drive vehicles on dry, tall grass or on the should of roadways.
- Do not throw cigarette butts out car windows. Always properly dispose of smoking paraphernalia.
- When towing a trailer, ensure tow chains are properly secured and not left hanging low enough to drag on the pavement. This could cause sparks and ignite a wildfire.
- If cooking outdoors, only use smokers and grills on hard, flat surfaces like concrete or pavement. Do not use charcoal grills or smokers in windy conditions.
- The Parks and Recreation Department has issued a Parks Burning Restriction to ensure the safety of park patrons and surrounding communities, while minimizing the wildfire risk in the City’s parks, greenbelts, and preserves. The burning restriction prohibits the building of fires and grilling in all City of Austin parks, greenbelts and preserves.
