A few months ago, while campaigning for the Kendall County Judge’s position, a chance meeting and conversation with Christy Wiley sparked a months long journey to protect our community from the ravages of uncontrolled fires.
I asked what we could do to protect life and property under those circumstances, and I asked the right person.
Sixteen months ago, we were in the early stages of what is now a two-year exceptional drought. The county took the lead with Wiley’s guidance to tackle the wildfire triangle of hill country, considering the topography, weather, and conditions ripe for wildfire.
Within weeks, we had a committee of stakeholders and citizen volunteers meeting regularly to discuss a plan of action following the guidelines of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy.
The goals were simple -- to set forth a plan to restore and maintain resilient landscapes across all jurisdictions and prepare communities so they can live with and withstand wildfire without the loss of life or property.
More than 3,000 volunteer hours later, our group created Kendall County’s first Community Wildfire Plan.
Using a strategy of tools, science, and data to improve planning and fire prevention, our wildfire plan will aid county and city leadership to better understand the risks and actions required to lessen the threat a wildfire poses to our community.
The protection plan became official Aug. 22 when members of the Kendall County Community Wildfire Protection Plan Core Team, all volunteer fire chiefs, Texas A&M Forestry Service, Texas Parks & Wildlife, and officials from the city and county assembled to sign the commitment of shared responsibility to prepare our communities to manage, protect, and respond effectively to lessen the risk of wildfire in Kendall County.
Working together, we will implement this outstanding plan in the upcoming months with projects to protect from wildfires, and when necessary, to respond safely and efficiently should a wildfire occur. Please take the time to read the plan on the Kendall County website and participate in any presentation meetings.
Weeks of triple-digit temperatures, dry riverbeds, and no appreciable rain forced the Kendall County Commissioners Court Aug. 7 to institute a “Declaration of Local Disaster.”
Conditions are ripe for a wildfire, and we each owe a responsibility to our neighbors to be careful with fire given our current conditions.
As Smokey Bear always says, “Only YOU can prevent wildfires.”
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