Travis County Judge Andy Brown signed a Declaration of Local Disaster on Mar. 3 as a result of the National Weather Service, or NWS, forecasts of extreme fire weather conditions beginning Mar. 4.

Current situation

Under the declaration, a countywide burn ban is in effect for at least the next seven days. After this period, county officials will reassess conditions—such as drought, wind, and dry vegetation—to determine whether to extend the ban.

“Protecting life and property is our priority at Travis County. While we hope for the best-case scenario, the Disaster Declaration will help prepare our wildfire response for the worst-case scenario,” Brown said in a statement. “Even a small spark can spread rapidly and pose a serious threat to our homes and businesses.”

The NWS issued a Red Flag Warning for Mar. 4 until 9 p.m., while the agency’s Storm Prediction Center placed Central Texas under an extreme fire weather warning. The expected sustained winds of 20-25 mph—and gusts up to 50 mph—could cause any wildfire to spread rapidly.
Central Texas was placed under an extreme fire weather warning by the National Weather Service on Mar. 4. (Courtesy National Weather Service)
Major takeaways


Residents throughout Central Texas are urged to remain vigilant and use caution. Officials ask residents to avoid outdoor burning, keep cars off dry grass, properly dispose of cigarettes and properly store trailer chains to prevent sparks.

Other precautions include avoiding the use of charcoal grills and smokers in windy conditions. Embers can be blown away and spark a wildfire. Cleaning out home gutters can also cause embers to can be picked up by the wind and blown more than a mile away. Dried leaves and debris in gutters may catch fire.

Local authorities also urge residents to make all necessary preparations to quickly evacuate homes and neighborhoods should an emergency fire event occur.

The city of Austin ranks sixth in the nation for number of homes at risk of wildfire, Mayor Kirk Watson told reporters during last year's pre-emptive declaration of disaster ahead of a winter fire season.


Additionally, southeast and southwest Travis County in particular exhibit areas with high fire risk aspects.

Residents are encouraged to visit the Ready, Set, Go! wildfire preparedness website to actively prepare homes for the impending wildfire season.

Watson also urged Austinites to sign up for local emergency alerts at WarnCentralTexas.org.

Bobby Abbott, Travis County Emergency Services District No. 6 fire chief, advised locals to take time to create a defensible space to better protect homes.


A defensible space is a buffer between a home and surrounding vegetation or debris, such as trees, brush or even missing roof shingles. This buffer helps improve a house’s chance of surviving a wildfire and gives firefighters a safe area to work in to defend the structure.

Here are some steps individuals can take to reduce the risk of fire around their home:
  • Clean out gutters to remove leaves and debris
  • Clear dried leaves and vegetation within 5 feet of home
  • Trim tree branches so they are at least 10 feet away from the residence
  • Keep flammable items away from house or store them in a garage or shed
A closer look

According to a recent report from the Texas Comptroller, an estimated 85% of wildfires in Texas ignite within just two miles of a community. The report also highlights Austin as one of the state's highest-risk areas for wildfires.
Data from the US Department of Agriculture's Forest Services highlights rural areas in Austin and Travis County at higher risk of wildfire. (Courtesy US Department of Agriculture Forest Services)
In Austin, wildfire risk is higher than 74% of communities throughout the nation. Both wildfire likelihood and risk to homes remain high across the metro and a large percentage of buildings lie within risk reduction zones.

Risk reduction zones are areas where mitigation activities would be the most effective mode to protecting homes and other types of buildings from wildfire. Risk factors include slope, fuel, surface composition, drought and wind. Risk reduction zones are broken into three categories:
  • Minimal: Buildings are not likely to be subjected to wildfire.
  • Indirect: Buildings may be ignited by sources such as embers and home-to-home ignition.
  • Direct: Buildings may be ignited by adjacent flammable vegetation, as well as indirect sources.
An estimated 46,878 buildings lie in direct exposure to potential wildfire, according to data from the US Department of Agriculture's Forest Service.
Of note


Williamson County, directly to the north of Travis County, has also issued a Local State of Disaster Mar. 3 intended to prepare county and city resources for potential wildfires in the area.

The order prohibits the outdoor burning of all household waste, including yard waste such as leaves, grass and tree branches, as well as any burning to clear out trees, stumps and other natural vegetation. The ban also prohibits any smoking or vaping in public parks or on Williamson County land. Violating the ban could result in a $1,000 fine or up to 180 days in jail, according to county documents.