AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott today announced that he directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to activate additional state emergency response resources in anticipation of extremely critical wildfire danger expected across West Texas and ongoing elevated-to-critical fire weather conditions across most of the state into the weekend.

“The State of Texas continues to monitor the heightened wildfire threats that are impacting large portions of the state,” said Governor Abbott. “Due to the unpredictable nature of wildfires, I directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to ready additional emergency response resources to assist local communities with any wildfire outbreaks. With dry conditions, wind gusts, and low humidity increasing wildfire danger, Texans are encouraged to make an emergency plan, limit any activities that can cause a spark, and heed the guidance of local officials to keep yourself and your family safe.”

According to the Texas A&M Forest Service, dry surface fuels, very strong wind gusts, and low humidity will continue to support increased wildfire danger across nearly all of the state, with extremely critical wildfire danger expected in areas including the High Plains, South Plains, Permian Basin, Big Country, Texoma, Metroplex, and Hill Country. High winds could promote large wind-driven fires with high resistance to control.

The Texas A&M Forest Service is monitoring conditions for the potential of a Southern Plains Wildfire Outbreak tomorrow, a dangerous fire weather pattern that could develop under the current forecast. According to the National Weather Service, increased wildfire danger is expected to continue over the next several days.

The Wildland Fire Preparedness Level remains at Preparedness Level 3, indicating that wildfire activity is impacting several regions of the state as the result of drought, dry vegetation, or frequent fire weather events.

The Texas State Emergency Operations Center (SOC) remains activated at Level II (Escalated Response) as the state stands ready to support local officials’ response to wildfire danger. At the Governor’s direction, more than 750 state emergency responders and over 300 pieces of equipment have mobilized from more than 16 state agencies to support the state’s wildfire response across Texas.

The following state emergency response resources continue to remain ready to support local wildfire response operations, including:

• Texas A&M Forest Service (Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System): Local, state, and out of state firefighters and support personnel, fire engines, bulldozers, and motor graders; federally contracted firefighting aircraft, including large air tankers, single-engine air tankers for retardant drops, air attack platforms for surveillance and spotting, super scoopers for water drops, helicopters with firefighting capability, fire bosses and an aerial supervision module for aerial guidance
• Texas Division of Emergency Management: The State of Texas Incident Management Team to support deployed emergency response resources across the state
• Texas National Guard: Chinook and Blackhawk helicopters with firefighting capability
• Texas Department of State Health Services (Texas Emergency Medical Task Force): Wildland Fire Support Packages consisting of medics, ambulances, and all-terrain vehicles
• Texas Department of Public Safety: Texas Highway Patrol Troopers to patrol roadways and assist stranded motorists
• Texas Parks and Wildlife Department: Game Wardens, State Park Police
• Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (Texas A&M Task Force 1 and Texas Task Force 2): Type 3 Urban Search and Rescue Teams
• Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service: Disaster Assessment and Recovery Agents as well as AgriLife Extension Agents to support agricultural and livestock needs
• Texas Animal Health Commission: Coordinating animal resource needs
• Texas Department of Agriculture: Coordinating agricultural resource needs
• Texas Department of Transportation: Personnel monitoring road conditions
• Public Utility Commission of Texas: Power outage monitoring and coordination with utility providers
• Railroad Commission of Texas: Monitoring of the state’s natural gas supply and communication with the oil and gas industry
• Texas Commission on Environmental Quality:‍ Air/water/wastewater monitoring
• Texas Health and Human Services Commission: Personnel to provide information on available services through the 2-1-1 Texas Information Referral Network
• Texas Department of Information Resources: Monitoring technology infrastructure

Texans are urged to implement wildfire prevention measures, including avoiding activities that may cause sparks or flames, making an emergency plan, follow instructions from local officials, and keeping emergency supplies easily available.

Texans can visit TexasReady.gov for wildfire prevention information, locate all-hazards preparedness information at tdem.texas.gov/prepare and find the latest wildfire information at tfsweb.tamu.edu.

Governor Abbott continues to take action to provide all available resources to help support local communities and protect Texans from wildfire impacts, including:  

• Encouraging Texans impacted by wildfire to report damage by using TDEM’s online damage reporting tool.
• Increasing the Readiness Level of the State Emergency Operations Center and adding counties to the state’s wildfire disaster declaration.
• Deploying additional state emergency response resources ahead of extremely critical wildfire danger.
• Activating state wildfire response resources ahead of wildfire danger.

By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
Bowie City Councilors approved the first reading of an ordinance for new water rates Tuesday night, following months of debate over first rate change for water since 2018.
The residential customer in the city limits uses on average 2,000 to 3,000 gallons of water per month, and under the new rates will see an increase from $5 to $7.50 a month. This water rate proposal was different from the previous offerings as it adjusted usage, not the base rate or adding any new fees.
This approval came on the heels of a workshop on March 4 where the council members learned more about pending infrastructure needs at the water plant including a new raw water pump and upgrades to the plant as it nears 85% capacity.
Public Works Director Stony Lowrance and Plant Director Jerry Sutton last week told the council the pump is already a mandate from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and has to be done; however, the plant is operating at about 80% capacity. When it hits 85% the city will have to undertaken plans to expand to meet the larger capacity.

Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.

Barbara Cundiff succumbed to critical injuries she received when her home near Bonita exploded and burned on Feb. 22.
Montague County Sheriff Marshall Thomas said he was informed of the 75-year-old’s passing on Feb. 28. Barbara and Donald Cundiff lived in a beautiful home located at 4200 Farm-to-Market Road 1815 east of Nocona.
It was believed a possible propane explosion was the cause of the fire on Feb. 21. Donald was in the living room when he heard an explosion that blew out the back of the house. He found his wife laying in the kitchen and he was able to drag her out of the house.
A helicopter was called to the scene to transport Barbara to Parkland Hospital where she was treated for her injuries. Donald was transported to Nocona General Hospital where he was treated and released for burns on his face, hands and arms.
Bowie Fire Chief Doug Page has been investigating the fire examining the scene and interviewing witnesses at the scene. Officials from the Texas Railroad Commission also were called in to investigate possible propane leaks, and they await that report.
Page said no final determination of the cause has been made, although it appears to have been an accident. SO Investigator Ryan Blackburn stated the same indicating he still has some work to do on the case.