TX Emergency Management Activates Fire Resources in Panhandle

Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to activate resources ahead of elevated conditions for fire danger in the Texas Panhandle and South Plains. These resources will support local officials’ response to wildfires if fires exceed local capabilities.

The Texas A&M Forest Service warns that wildfire-prone conditions caused by underlying drought aligned with dryness, increased wind speeds, freeze-cured grasses, an abundance of vegetation on the landscape and critical fire weather are expected to become progressively more hazardous in the Panhandle and South Plains through tomorrow and potentially the weekend. “The state of Texas is fully prepared to assist communities in the Panhandle and South Plains that are at risk of potential wildfire activity this week,” said Abbott. “We will continue to coordinate with local partners and monitor fire conditions to ensure resources are readily available, and I encourage Texans to heed the guidance of local officials and take proper precautions ahead of potential fires.”