AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Emergency services are developing a new way to quell Texas wildfires.
The FLAME Initiative is a system created by Austin and Travis County firefighters designed to stop wildfires before they happen, all by following the program’s five pillars:
- Fortify Structures: Use fire-resistant materials and techniques during construction of new homes and buildings
- Landscape defensively: Halt wildfire spread by giving yards and other areas ample space
- Address spark entry: Secure roofs, vents and building overhangs to prevent wildfires from entering
- Maintain clean zones: Regularly clear property of debris, dead plants and other flammable items
- Educate and equip: Train homeowners and property managers to take action before wildfires happen
By following the five pillars, safety conditions should improve for Travis County residents and first responders in the event of a wildfire, and homeowners may also see a decrease in insurance prices, the Travis County Fire Marshal’s Office said.
Wildfires make up around 6% of emergency incidents in Travis County. Eastern Travis County is the most susceptible to wildfires given its dry climate and sprawling development, the Travis County Fire Marshal’s Office said.
Central Texas’ terrain is what makes local wildfires so dangerous said Monty Dozier, Director of Texas A&M University’s AgriLife Extension Service Disaster Assessment and Recovery Unit.
“We have fuel — lots of grasses have dried out, brushes have dried out,” Dozier said. “As wind speeds pick up that moves the fire and makes the danger-risk higher because the flames can be drawn and moved further across the landscape at a faster rate.”
Dozier’s office advises that residents regularly trim and upkeep yards to further reduce the risk of wildfire spread.
Texas ranchers and farmers can do their part to prevent wildfires by properly tending to livestock, especially cattle, Dozier said. This can include culling a herd’s livestock, installing and upkeeping proper fencing and keeping track of the number and location of each cattle in the event of a wildfire.
“We always tell them pictures are worth a thousand words,” Dozier said. “Get any kind of information you have on identification of those cattle, whether it’s a brand or an air-tag so that when we come in with federal resources we can help pay for what’s lost.”
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