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Tag Archives: wildfire
City departments continue refining wildfire evacuation plan
Last week, City Council’s Mobility Committee learned about the regional response and evacuation plan that would go into effect in the event of a wildfire. “Wildfires know no boundaries and looking at what we’re doing in terms of coordination, we’re…
Fire • By Nina Hernandez • Oct 11, 2022
Travis County preps for centennial fire prevention week
According to a proclamation unanimously approved by the Travis County Commissioners Court on Tuesday, the week of Oct. 9-15 is the 100th annual fire prevention week in Travis County. The theme of the centennial? “Fire won’t wait. Plan your escape.”…
Fire • By Seth Smalley • Oct 6, 2022
Austin Water safeguarding its facilities from wildfire risk
As Austin continues to grow, the city is expanding toward wildlands. This creates an increased risk of fire in areas where human development intersects with natural areas, known as the wildland-urban interface. Austin Water discussed its efforts to mitigate wildfires…
Fire • By Veronica Apodaca • Aug 1, 2022
City highlights resilience measures during Wildfire Awareness Month
The city of Austin is no stranger to irregular weather patterns, with some predicting that near-record May temperatures foreshadow an unusually hot and dry summer. With temperatures rising, staff members across a number of city departments are bolstering their defenses…
Environment • By Kali Bramble • Jun 1, 2022
As Bastrop wildfire forces evacuations, Travis County issues burn ban
On Tuesday, the Travis County Commissioners Court unanimously approved a burn ban, beginning Thursday, Jan. 20, at the behest of the fire marshal. The ban comes after a few fires broke out in Travis County over the weekend, and a…
Travis County • By Seth Smalley • Jan 19, 2022
Fire season may be winding down but officials urge Austinites to stay wary of wildfire
A winter freeze and a wet spring may not conjure concerns of wildfires, but fire officials say the combination of those events and forecasted weather patterns create an environment ripe for more significant blazes, including in residential areas not normally…
Environment • By Samuel Stark • Oct 5, 2021
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County looks to amend development code to increase fire protections
On July 27, Travis County commissioners fielded discussion regarding the Stone Ridge Estates subdivision and the Flint Rock Circle subdivision. Both developments are located in far west Travis County, off of Highway 71 in Precinct 3. While the discussion was…
Development • By Seth Smalley • Aug 5, 2021
Taking cues from audit, Austin continues to shore up its wildfire prevention strategy
Thanks to climate change, Austinites can expect to see more storms, floods and fires in their future. This week, City Council’s Audit and Finance Committee heard what steps the Fire Department has taken to address the threat of wildfires following…
Fire • By Elizabeth Pagano • May 28, 2021
City looks to mitigate wildfire hazards caused by Winter Storm Uri
Some tree trimmings from power restoration efforts during Winter Storm Uri are still on the ground nearly two months after the storm, creating a potential wildfire hazard as wildfire season approaches. Though trimmings in residential areas have been mostly picked…
City Hall • By Jonathan Lee • Apr 8, 2021
City prepares to implement new Wildland-Urban Interface fire code
Austin Fire Department officials gave the Environmental Commission an update on the new Wildland-Urban Interface Code Wednesday. City Council voted in April to adopt the new code, which regulates residential and commercial building requirements to protect structures against wildfires. With the…
Fire • By Daniel Salazar • Oct 27, 2020
Austin has a new Wildland-Urban Interface fire code
After years of planning and preparation, City Council unanimously adopted the Wildland-Urban Interface Code last Thursday. In addition to adopting the code, which focuses on regulating building codes to protect structures against wildfires, Council Member Alison Alter made a motion…
Fire • By Jessi Devenyns • Apr 13, 2020
Austin firefighters look to California to combat wildfire risk
Outside of California, the Austin metro area is one of the regions in the country most vulnerable to wildfire. According to CoreLogic’s 2019 Wildfire Risk Report, the metropolitan area has the fifth-highest risk in the nation for a major wildfire…
