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PALO PINTO COUNTY — Despite the recent rains, the National Weather Service isn’t predicting a wet winter due to the current La Nina year – which means drought conditions fueling a volatile fire season still loom over Palo Pinto County.
During a La Nina year winter temperatures are warmer than usual in the South and cooler than normal in the North. A perfect breeding ground for drought and wildfires, the likes of which Texas hasn’t seen since 2011 when 31,453 wildfires scorched 4 million acres and destroyed 2,947 homes statewide.
As far as 2022 is shaping up, Texas A&M Forest Service’s Adam Turner said firefighters have been fighting back-to-back blazes making it a record book fire season.
“It’s definitely been a historic year for fires,” Turner said. “Without a doubt the worst fire season we’ve had since 2011. Usually, we have a rotating fire season where different parts of the state burn at different times and this year it’s just been the entire state all year long.”
The rainfall from this past week won’t do much in terms of quelling drought conditions, dampen the fire season frenzy or end widespread burn bans, Turner added.
“We’re not out of the drought by any means,” he said. “The underlying fuel conditions will improve with continued moisture, but until drought conditions improve we will have the chance to return to a persistent fire season.”
Turner said some of the wildfires to hit Palo Pinto County during the current fire season dating back to December, 2021 include:
• Dempsey Fire 11,597.7 acres burned
• Palo Pinto Complex Fire – 596 acres burned
• 1148 Fire – 457 acres burned
• Panama Fire 210 acres burned The 1148 Fire destroyed five homes and a Possum Kingdom West brush truck evacuated by two firefighters attempting to defend the residences, according to the Possum Kingdom West Side Volunteer Fire Department.
Fire calls have soared as well. County Emergency Management Coordinator Mistie Garland reported 73 in July, compared to last year’s average of about 17.
The county’s Keet-Byram Drought Index is equally as grim with exceedingly high numbers. The current KDBI countywide average is 725 with the worst areas hitting 777, Garland said.
KDBI ranges from 0 to 800, with 0 representing no moisture depletion and 800 signaling absolutely dry conditions.
“The higher that number gets to 800 means you’re not only in a drought, all the vegetation is dried up,” said County Fire Chief Gary Lee. “Now it’s just like a tinder box.”
Officials emphasized there are proactive measures residents can take to safeguard themselves and loved ones. Those include being careful with sparks, constructing defensible space around homes and structures, and being prepared for an evacuation on a moment’s notice.
“If you get asked to evacuate know where to go, know what to take with you and be ready,” cautioned Turner. “If a fire breaks out they tend to move quickly.”
For more tips on preventing wildfire, visit www.tfsweb.tamu.edu/ PreventWildfire. To check county burn bans, go to www.tfsweb.tamu. edu/burnbans. For the local fire weather forecast, visit www.weather. gov/srh.
