With East Texas hunting seasons in full swing, a state agency is once again urging hunters and campers to use caution outdoors, to avoid forest fires.
The Texas A&M forest service is putting out that word knowing that a large percentage of fires start during major hunting seasons.
According to the forest service, nine out of 10 wildfires in Texas are human caused, and 65 percent of wildfires that occur during hunting season are caused by debris burning and equipment use.
From 2016 to 2020, Texas A&M forest service responded to over 37-hundred wildfires, burning nearly a million-and-a-half acres. One of the common dangers particularly around campfires is grass. Drought or freeze cured grass.
Frost and drought can cure drying of fuel. A lot of it is with vehicle use, equipment use. Camping, campfires, making wildfires easier to start. One of our big ones is parking or driving over tall grass. The vehicle exhaust can ignite the grass, starting a fire.
A few simple tips to help avoid accidentally starting a wildfire while hunting and camping this fall.
Be cautious with any activity that could cause a spark. Drown and stir your campfire before you leave it, and when using a cooking fire or campfire, never leave it unattended, and always make sure it is out before leaving.
Always check with local officials for burn bans or other outdoor burning restrictions.
