Across Texas’ Crossroads and nearby Coastal Bend counties, a stretch of extreme heat, drying vegetation, and worsening drought readings is raising the wildfire threat.
Places that saw comparatively limited fire danger in July are now losing that cushion as the land dries out.
Here’s what to know
Limited rainfall, high temperatures, and windy weather have made vegetation across the Crossroads more flammable, leading the Texas A&M Forest Service to warn that wildfire danger is increasing, as the Victoria Advocate reported. The agency says those conditions are making it easier for fires to start and spread through natural vegetation.
Roel Esparza, fire coordinator for the forest service’s Victoria District, said the Coastal Bend avoided some of the wildfire danger seen elsewhere because July brought heavy rainfall and the region typically held higher humidity. Even so, other parts of South Texas were still seeing significant fire response activity…