AUSTIN, Texas — Several Southern states are grappling with wildfires, fueled by dry conditions and strong winds. Texas has ordered evacuations, while Florida officials have been forced to close a section of a major highway amidst the busy spring break season.
In Texas, a fire raging in Sam Houston National Forest, near Houston, has led to the evacuation of approximately 900 residences and the closure of schools. The National Weather Service has issued heightened fire alerts for the area surrounding Houston, the nation’s fourth-largest city.
The Texas A&M Forest Service reported that the blaze, which began on Wednesday, has consumed about 3.1 square miles (8 square kilometers) and was only about 10% contained as of Thursday morning.
While no injuries or property damage have been immediately reported, the Cleveland Independent School District, serving around 12,000 students, has canceled classes as a precautionary measure.
Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough, the county’s leading official, praised the efforts of firefighters and law enforcement, stating they “did an such unbelievable job yesterday in protecting homes, animals, livestock and people. We’ve lost basically nothing, which is hard to believe,”
However, Judge Keough warned that expected wind gusts and a decrease in humidity on Thursday could create a dangerous situation.
“We’re asking the people who evacuated last night to stay still away from their homes,” Keough stated.
Florida fires
In the Florida Keys, a significant brush fire that ignited on Tuesday prompted authorities to close one of the two access roads to the island chain. U.S. 1 has also been intermittently closed to allow fire crews to move their equipment.
With spring break in full swing, U.S. 1, the main route connecting the mainland to the islands, is experiencing heavy traffic. The road is also crucial for residents who live on the mainland and commute to work in the numerous hotels and restaurants in Key Largo and other areas.
Arkansas blazes
In Arkansas, fire crews responded to over 50 fires on Wednesday, fueled by strong winds.
The fires resulted in the closure of several highways, including a portion of Interstate 530 southeast of Little Rock, due to heavy smoke.
Flames caused damage to structures in several cities, including Little Rock. In North Little Rock, the roof of St. Joseph’s, a 115-year-old building that formerly served as an orphanage and now houses a nonprofit providing urban farming resources, collapsed.
What’s causing the fires?
The South has been experiencing a combination of cold, dry conditions followed by strong winds, which have contributed to the spread of the fires.
In Texas, fire hazards have been reported from the northern Panhandle, where ground vegetation has frozen and dried out, extending hundreds of miles east to the coast.
South Florida has experienced minimal rainfall in recent weeks, and the rainy season is not expected to begin until mid-May. Meteorologist Donal Harrigan with the National Weather Service in Miami stated that another cold front with dry air is expected to move through South Florida on Thursday night.
Red Flag warnings
The weather service has issued Red Flag warnings for fire-prone conditions in East Texas and South Florida and anticipates extending them for several days.
Red flag warnings are issued by the National Weather Service when conditions are ideal for wildfires. In Southeast Texas, weather officials are forecasting wind gusts of 25 miles per hour (40 kilometers per hour) combined with humidity as low as 18%, which will further dry out vegetation.
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