AUSTIN (KXAN) — With dry air, gusty winds and ongoing drought, fire risk is elevated in Austin on Wednesday.
Austin and Travis County officials announced last week that both the city and county have issued disaster declarations due to the region’s heightened wildfire risk. Gov. Greg Abbott also has an ongoing statewide disaster declaration due to persistently dry conditions.
Here’s what you need to know going into that period of high fire danger.
What’s the forecast?
A front moving in Tuesday will push the moisture out of our area and replace it with cooler, dryer air. Wind is a factor in Central Texas through Wednesday.
KXAN meteorologists are regularly updating this forecast story with the latest conditions.
Travis County burn ban in effect
Travis County’s burn ban remains in effect until the county’s commissioners decide the danger has subsided enough to remove it.
Starting this year, Travis County launched a new text alert system through Warn Central Texas that messages people when a burn ban has been put in place, when it’s been lifted and when a Red Flag warning has been issued.
To sign up text: TCBURNBAN to 888777.
Protecting yourself and your home
In a briefing earlier this month, the Austin Fire Department urged residents to avoid parking on dry grass, secure tow chains, discard cigarettes responsibly and refrain from using charcoal grills or smokers during windy conditions, like we’ll see Wednesday.
Additionally, AFD asked people to make sure their homes are set apart from flammable materials — specifically vegetation within five feet of your house.
“Make sure that you’ve maintained your home on the outside, that your gutters are clean, that you’ve removed any flammable material from around your structure,” said Carrie Stewart, Division Chief for the Austin Fire Department’s Wildfire Division.
Austinites can learn more about their wildfire risk and how to protect their home on AFD’s Wildfire Hub.
Warn Central Texas notifications
City and county leaders use Warn Central Texas to send emergency notifications to people, but you have to sign up for those alerts.
“Be among the first to receive critical community alerts regarding natural disasters, weather warnings, evacuation notices, bio-terrorism alerts, boil water notices, and missing child reports,” the website says.
You can sign up for those notifications here.
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