Firefighters battle grass fires despite lack of 'danger'
By SHANNON CRABTREE scrabtree@leader-news.com

L-N File Photo Not 'Controlled' El Campo firefighter Louis Rosales, shown fighting a grass fire in this file photo, is one of many volunteers who would have to race to the scene to fight wildfires in the dry winter fields in western Wharton County. Although there is no countywide burn ban, the western part of Wharton County is quite dry.

Although state drought indicators say Wharton County isn't in any wildfire danger, El Campo volunteer firemen spent the weekend battling three grass fires that consumed almost 200 acres.

Winter frosts have ensured there is plenty of fuel, firefighters say, despite soil moisture levels being too wet to prompt an automatic burn ban in Wharton County.

"I was asked (Monday) if I would support a burn ban," El Campo Volunteer Fire Chief Jimmy George Jr. said. "I said I would support a burn ban because the fuel (grass) is more abundant than normal due to the wet summer and these fuels are currently dormant or dead and very dry. Even with rain, it is still very flammable."

El Campo firefighters responded to three grass fire calls Saturday, although one across the county line near Ganado was quickly disregarded.

But the other two had firefighters racing through the darkness to do battle with field fires.

"Attempting to extinguish a grass fire at night is more diffi- cult due to bad visibility," Chief George said.

" It is very hard to see during the daylight in some fields. Add in darkness and it gets very difficulty to see any type of obstacles, which may cause injury to firefighters and damage to equipment."

Around 6 p.m. Saturday, firefighters were dispatched to FM 1300 near the CR 395 intersection to the report of a large grass fire.

But before it could be completely doused, they were requested to assist Louise with another FM 1300 grass fire near the county line.

After spending an exhausting night battling blazes Saturday, El Campo and Louise crews got to do it again Sunday evening when alarms again sounded.

This time a blaze was reported on CR 301 about 6:30 p.m.

"It puts some what of a strain on personnel, but the fires were extinguished without any problems," George said.

Wharton County commissioners use the Texas Forest Services Keetch-Byram Drought Index, a zero to 800 scale, to decide if a burn ban is needed. Measuring Texas soil conditions in a four kilometer grid, the higher the KBDI score, the greater the danger. At 500, an area is considered to be in danger of a wildfire.

In Wharton County, the KBDI is measured by County Emergency Management Coordinator Andy Kirkland each Monday.

If the mean score is 500, a burn ban goes into effect at midnight Thursday, giving media time to get the word out to the community.

This Monday, the mean KBDI in Wharton County measured 365 - well out of the burn ban level. But that measurement is the mean, or middle, number of all the four-kilometer grids in Wharton County.

The driest area - West Wharton County generally south of U.S. 59 - measured 609 on the scale while the wettest - East Wharton County toward Boling - was only 138.

Kirkland requested commissioners court to put in the burn ban Monday despite the KBDI, but the court took no action (please see related story).

With current conditions, extreme caution should be exercised whenever a person opts to burn, he added.

"Any person who wishes to burn a field or their household waste needs to check weather conditions first, wind speed and if the wind will change direction, he said. "Farmers and ranchers need to also secure their property by plowing a fire break inside the field they wish to burn."

Anyone starting a blaze is responsible for any damage to a neighbor's property should it spread.

"They also need to remember not to burn next to a roadway if the wind will blow the smoke across the road," George said, adding they could be held liable for any motor vehicle crashes that may occur due to the smoke crossing a road.

Those burning need to call the Wharton County Sheriff's Department at 543-1373 and the fire department at 543-3335 to see if there is a burn ban in effect, and if conditions are good to burn. They need to also give their name, phone number location of the fire and times when they will be burning.

"While burning do not leave the fire; it is not a controlled burn when there is no one watching the fire," the chief said.

Fires receiving complaints will be doused, he said, adding the fires need to be out before dark.

"We would rather not have anyone burn because things can go wrong very fast. People and can get injured," George said, and property can be damaged or destroyed.

"My recommendation is first do not burn, but if you feel that it is very important to burn, be very careful and call first before you burn."