Dec. 13, 2005

COLLEGE STATION – Cold fronts and dry pastures mean increased fire danger, so landowners should take extra precautions against wildfires this year, said a Texas Cooperative Extension expert.

James F. Cadenhead, Extension range and brush control specialist in Vernon, said, "Much of the state is very dry, as little rain has been received since September, yet much grass was grown during the summer and has now dried. With the numerous cold fronts with very low humidity, the grass, called fine fuels for prescribed burning, has dried, or cured out, completely, making for a tinderbox situation over most of the state."

Many counties are currently under a burn ban, he said, and more will probably declare bans soon in the northern region of the state.

"Usually, cold fronts are associated with bringing colder, drier air, and unless it meets with moisture coming in from the Gulf, it will be nearly precipitation free," he said.

Mahlon Hammetter, Texas Forest Service fire prevention specialist in Lufkin, said areas west of U.S. Interstate 35 remain dangerously dry and prone to fires.

"Even in areas that received precipitation, any decrease in fire risk will be temporary at best," he said. "Quite often, days with very low relative humidity levels follow winter cold fronts, and most of the moisture from light rains is evaporated from fine-textured fuels within the next day or two."

Cadenhead said strong, dry winds associated with cold fronts can cause electrical shorts and create sparks which can fuel wildfires. In addition, burning trash while cold fronts are blowing through can greatly increase the risk.

Ranchers and landowners should re-blade their fence-line fireguards and interior roads that could be used to stop fires, he said.

"Some areas can be shredded to at least slow down the advancing flame fronts around houses, barns and other structures," Cadenhead said. "If local highway departments cannot get around to mowing the right-of-ways adjacent to your property, then one might contact their local TxDOT (Texas Department of Transportation) officials and see if they will permit the landowner to help mow."

Landowners should also suspend outdoor welding on pens and other structures where sparks can often ignite a blaze, Cadenhead said. Hunters and visitors on the property should know not to smoke outside buildings or build campfires or outdoor cooking fires.

Hammetter said holiday festivities could also cause additional fire risks.

"With Christmas and New Year's holiday celebrations approaching, unsafe fireworks could spark wildfires," he said. "Only use fireworks well away from flammable vegetation and structures, with close adult supervision. Due to the presence of dangerously dry vegetation, restrictions may be in place to limit the sale and use of certain aerial fireworks."

With such dry climate this year, obeying restrictions to avoid wildfires is crucial, Hammetter said.

The following livestock, crop and weather conditions were reported by Extension districts:

PANHANDLE: Soil moisture is very short to short. Dry conditions continued with extremely low temperatures. A cold front brought temperatures below 0 F with no precipitation. Cotton harvest made good progress; it was 95 percent complete. Rangeland conditions were rated very poor to fair. Risk of fire was very high. Cattle were in fair to good condition; supplemental feeding continued.

SOUTH PLAINS: Soil moisture is short. Extremely low temperatures and winds contributed to dry conditions. Cotton harvest was nearly complete; ginning was expected to continue through March. Cotton yields were reported above average. Winter wheat was in fair condition but in need of moisture. Pastures and rangelands were in fair condition. Wind chill caused livestock stress; supplemental feeding continued.

ROLLING PLAINS: Soil moisture is very short. Cold, dry conditions were reported with below-freezing temperatures in some areas. Cotton and peanut harvests were nearly finished. Rangelands and pastures were in poor to fair condition. Livestock were in fair condition; stock tanks were very low or completely dry in some areas.

NORTH: Soil moisture is very short to short. Cold, freezing weather was reported, with ice and snow in some counties. Cotton and pecans were harvested. Without enough moisture, some wheat began to die. Rangelands and pastures were in poor condition. Stock tanks were dry. Livestock body conditions were deteriorating; heavy supplemental feeding continued.

EAST TEXAS: Soil moisture is very short. Dry conditions continued with small amounts of rainfall and very low temperatures. Winter pastures were in very poor condition; many grasses were killed by freeze and lack of moisture. Stock ponds were very low or completely dry. Hay supplies were low.

FAR WEST: Soil moisture is very short to short. Freezing temperatures with little or no moisture was reported. Some sheep and goats were lost due to freeze. Cotton and pecan harvests were almost complete. Winter wheat was in fair condition. Rangelands were in poor to fair condition. Cattle body conditions were good.

WEST CENTRAL: Soil moisture is short. Record low temperatures and dry conditions continued; some areas experienced below-freezing temperatures. Cotton harvest continued. Small grain fields suffered without rainfall. Fire danger is high and burn bans are in effect. Stock tanks were drying up. Producers continued to supplementary feed livestock.

CENTRAL: Soil moisture is very short. Very low temperatures with little or no moisture were reported. Pecan harvest progressed well. Wheat and oat producers were waiting for moisture to plant remaining acres. Pastures were in poor condition. Stock pond levels were very short.

SOUTHEAST: Soil moisture is short. Cold weather with rain, ice and frost was reported. Peanut harvest continued. Hay was in short supply in most areas. Some stock ponds were frozen. Cattle ranchers fed hay and cubes to livestock. Rangeland and pasture conditions declined and were in very poor condition. Livestock producers were selling calves.

SOUTHWEST: Soil moisture is very short. Cold weather and a freeze contributed to dry conditions. Peanut harvest was nearly complete; good yields and quality were reported. Cabbage, spinach and cucumber harvests continued. Hay supplies were low. Some stock tanks were completely dry. Some ranchers were providing large amounts of supplemental feed to livestock to save genetic conditioning, developed over a long period of time.

COASTAL BEND: Soil moisture is very short. Cold, dry weather persisted with a freeze. Winter pastures were in poor condition. Hay supplies were low, and prices increased. Hunting reports were good; colder weather made wildlife more visible because frost deteriorated a significant amount of vegetation. Livestock conditions were decreasing.

SOUTH: Soil moisture is short. Cold temperatures were reported with little or no precipitation. Sugarcane, citrus and vegetable harvests continued; good quality was reported. Cabbage, spinach, onions and other winter vegetables were irrigated. Haying operations continued in anticipation of frost. Ranchers continued to supplementary feed livestock.