With wildfires burning up the Hill Country, including three that burned hundreds of acres in Kendall County over the last week, the Kendall County Commissioners Court is considering an emergency declaration that would impact local workers.
Gov. Gregg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for Medina County in response to the wildfire that continues to burn in that area, scorching more than 1,000 acres of land. On Monday morning, it was reported to be about 70 percent contained.
During the commissioners court meeting Monday, Emergency Management Coordinator Jeff Fincke said the county may consider issuing the declaration that would require a permit for anyone conducting “hot work” should a disaster declaration go into effect in Kendall County.
Hot work is defined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency as any work involving “electric or gas welding, cutting, brazing or similar flame or spark-producing operations.”
Fincke said the countywide burn ban remains in effect as well.
“If they’re building a fence, they’re going to have to have fire protection,” Fincke said in listing as an example to commissioners. “They’re going to have to have fire watch and stuff like that.”
One of the fires was off Farm-to-Market Road 3351, which ignited Saturday between the 100 and 300 block of the state highway, and was determined to be a roadside start, according to Fincke, which he said meant could’ve been started in many ways.
Bergheim Volunteer Fire Department Chief Adam Hawkins said the fire burned about 20 acres of unimproved land. While he said one structure was under immediate threat and evacuated, no structuresbuildings were damaged. Several fences were burned in the fire, however.
To avoid fires and improve safety, Hawkins encouraged drivers to ensure chains on vehicles are secured and to avoid parking in tall grass when pulling over off a roadway. He urged drivers to use caution when making their way around firefighters working fires, saying smoke and other factors can be distracting.
Fincke said the largest fire that ignited last weekend was on North Wilson Creek on the Kendall-Kerr County line, sparking Saturday afternoon. It was started by a man cutting his grass.
“That was a lawnmower,” Fincke said. “The grass on the deck caught fire, and he took off and didn’t realize he was a drip torch there.”
Fincke said the fire burned about 226 acres and damaged a barn in Kerr County. And he said firefighters still were responding to that wildfire Monday morning.
“We have done that before,” Lux said of a disaster declaration. “And, of course, you know we’re cognizant of the impact that it has on people who are trying to make a living, but it worked well and it’s a minor inconvenience for the potential that it could possibly save.”
Fincke said while he understands the permitting process can be inconvenient, he pointed out county staff has the ability to charge for the hot work permit. He said the county has opted not to charge for the permits in the past in understanding residents are trying to make a living.
He said he didn’t foresee county staff charging for the permits this time should a disaster declaration be issued this year, but he said it would still provide residents an avenue to continue their work should they adhere to the added safety precautions.
Another roadside fire was ignited Sunday afternoon where Big Joshua Creek meets Interstate 10, but Fincke said the fire was contained to about 100 feet by 100 feet as firefighters were able to make it to the scene quickly.
The three fires are part of a developing pattern in Kendall County, as two controlled burns ended with intervention from the Bergheim Volunteer Fire Department late last month on Rodalyn Drive alone, suggesting there is a lack of awareness of the dry and windy conditions facing the county this winter and now spring. These conditions create dangerous fire-spreading scenarios, Fincke said, and local firefighters are urging residents to heed their warnings and adhere to the burn ban in effect.
“It’s so dry now that if you just think about burning, it’ll catch fire,” Fincke warned.
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