HOUSTON – The Houston Fire Department is preparing for a possible wildfire outbreak in all areas along and west of I-45. However, some fire danger exists as far east as the I-45 corridor, following a Red Flag Warning issued on Tuesday.
The National Weather Service is forecasting a significant possibility of a wildfire outbreak across a large portion of Texas on Tuesday as a powerful storm system travels over the central plains. The warning is in effect from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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The Houston area can expect very gusty winds as the line moves through. In addition to the severe weather risk for some parts of our viewing area, Southeast Texas now has a wind advisory through 6 p.m. Tuesday, with SW winds of 15-25 mph and wind gusts of 40 mph.
HPD lists critical fire conditions:
- Winds of 20-30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph
- Relative humidity dropping to 15-25%
- Rapidly drying fuels throughout the day
- Wind Advisory in effect for all of Southeast Texas through 6 p.m.
“While this morning’s rainfall may temporarily reduce the risk, the combination of strong winds, low humidity, and dormant grass and debris will create dangerous conditions that could allow fires to spread quickly,” said Houston Fire Chief Thomas Muñoz. “We are urging all Houstonians to exercise extreme caution today. Not only will you protect yourself and your property, but you will also be keeping our firefighters safe.”
The Houston Fire Department strongly urges all residents to:
- Avoid all fire-related activities
- Keep vehicles off dry grass
- Properly discard cigarettes
- Avoid activities that could create sparks
- Remove pine needles and leaves from roofs, eaves, and gutters
- Prevent chains from trailers dragging on the ground
It is against City ordinance to conduct any outdoor burning without a permit from the fire marshal.