NEWS
Wildfire activity forecast to increase through the weekend
Wildfire activity is forecast to increase along and west of I-35 and into South Texas through the weekend, according to Texas A&M Forest Service personnel.
Wildfire activity is forecast to increase through the weekend. (Texas A&M Forest Service photo)
An abundance of extremely dry, dormant grasses and intensifying drought may produce large wildfires that are difficult to control when exposed to periods of elevated-to-critical fire weather.
Since March 12, state and local resources have responded to 70 wildfires that have burned 15,274 acres across the state.
Texas A&M Forest Service is monitoring the current situation closely and has positioned personnel and equipment across areas of concern.
Resources staged across the state
“The underlying drought conditions combined with winds associated with cold front passages has supported increased wildfire activity across the state this week,” said Wes Moorehead, Texas A&M Forest Service fire chief. “Conditions are not forecast to improve through the weekend, and the agency has strategically placed fire resources across the state for a quick and effective response.”
Fully staffed task forces and additional suppression equipment are staged in Alice, Amarillo, Beeville, Brownwood, Burkburnett, Childress, Edinburg, Fort Stockton, Fredericksburg, Lubbock, McGregor, Merkel, Mineral Wells, Pleasanton, San Angelo, Smithville and Victoria.
Additionally, fireline supervisors, command staff and incident commanders with advanced qualifications are strategically placed across the state to respond.
Aviation resources currently staged in state for wildfire response include two large airtankers, 12 single engine air tankers, four air attack platforms, three Type 1 helicopters, two Type 3 helicopters and one aerial supervision module.
During periods of high fire activity, aviation resources are used to support suppression efforts on the ground, aiding in the protection of structures and other valuable resources. Aircraft responded to eight wildfires over the past week, assisting ground crews with a total of 66,000 gallons of water and retardant to slow forward progression of fires.
Texas A&M Forest Service has requested the mobilization of six strike teams via Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System for wildfire incident support.
Texas A&M Forest Service reminds the public to “stay wildfire aware.” If a wildfire is spotted, immediately contact local authorities. A quick response can help save lives and property.
For current conditions and wildfire outlook, visit the Texas Fire Potential Outlook at https://bit.ly/3kemhbG.
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Downtown Bowie was filled to the brim Saturday for the 29th annual Chicken and Bread Days Heritage Festival, and while the fall temperatures were no where to be found as it pushed past 90 degrees, it was a great day filled with music, food, games and fun.
The festival weekend began Friday night with the Harvest Sip & Stroll with Me. Some 20 locations welcomed strollers to their businesses to enjoy drinks and snacks, and live music in some locations. There were even horse-drawn carriage rides.
Jamie Rodden, president of the Bowie Community Development Board festival host, said it was a fun time bringing joy to our community especially, storytime with Hannah Woolf.
“We had a new Chicken and Bread Days Car Show entry record of 154 surpassing the previous 142 filling the brick streets of downtown Bowie. The new additions like the semi-truck show participants and Captain Perry & Slurp puppet show were popular attractions. The board is already making plans for a big 30th annual event,” said Rodden.
Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News, which includes fiddle and art show results. Watch the weekend print edition for additional photos and results.
(Top) There were 154 car show entries filling downtown Bowie with vintage and unique autos.
The first five storm shelters have been installed and rebate checks have been delivered to their owners as a result of the City of Bowie’s Residential Storm Shelter Rebate Program.
This program utilizes a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant to provide a 50% rebate of the purchase price (up to a maximum storm shelter cost of $6,000).
To participate in the program, the storm shelter must be installed within the city limits of Bowie and the applicant must be the owner of the property.
The kick-off meeting for this storm shelter rebate program was on July 30 at city hall, and thus far, 19 applicants have been accepted into the program.
City Emergency Management Coordinator Kirk Higgins reported there is one position remaining in the program. Anyone who is interested should request an application by the coordinator at [email protected].
Once accepted, the deadline for completing the installation of a storm shelter and the necessary paperwork is December, 2025.
Do you have unwanted computer components such a desktops computers, laptop computers, LCD monitors, keyboards, mice, scanners, printers, battery back-up units, etc., that you don’t know how to dispose of properly?
If so, members of the Montague Emergency Communications Team can help as they host the annual Computer Recycling Day from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 12 at the Bowie City hall parking lot at the corner of Mason and Pecan.
The team will recycle your unwanted computer components and insure they are disposed of properly, in an environmentally friendly manner. It is the perfect time to clean out that closet of nonworking or old electronics at your house.
They also will insure any computer hard drives are destroyed, thus preventing anyone from gaining access to personal information which may be left in the memory.
They also can accept sealed lead acid (SLA), nickel cadmium (NiCad), nickel metal hydride (NiMH) and lithium ion (Li-Ion) batteries for recycling. They cannot accept computer monitors or TV with cathod ray tubes.
This is a public service being offered at no cost to the community. Any proceeds will benefit the Montague County Emergency Communications Team and the Montague County SKYWARN program.
For details email [email protected].
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