From the cover
How Cedar Park can plan for wildfire risk
Current situation
Damage potential The Texas Wildfire Risk Explorer map shows the range of wildfire risks posed to various areas in the state. Cedar Park is generally at a low to moderate risk.
Increased heat, extended drought conditions and other factors have led to a heightened risk of wildfires across the western United States, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association. People can take a number of precautions to prepare their property and home, and Community Impact talked to local officials to find out how to best prepare. Winter and summer are the highest risk seasons for wildfires in Texas, according to the Western Fire Chiefs Association. The winter risk is due to cold fronts bringing dry air into the state, and the summer risk is due to high heat and extended drought conditions. Cedar Park Fire Chief James Mallinger said the city is what is considered to be a wildland urban interface, meaning much of the city is densely populated, but there are areas in town that push up against wild spaces and could be at risk of wildfire damage. In August 2023, Cedar Park’s position as a WUI made it vulnerable to a 50-acre brush fire that destroyed multiple buildings.
Very high High Moderate Low
Cedar Park
SOURCE: TEXAS WILDFIRE RISK EXPLORER/ COMMUNITY IMPACT
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“Unfortunately for us, Cedar Park was the first test of the new regional mutual aid autoaid system,” Mallinger said about the blaze. “Fortunately for us, it worked well.” He noted that over 50 fire trucks from various localities came in to fight the fire.
Mallinger said Cedar Park is typically at a moderate fire risk, but that risk increases in dry and windy conditions.
The specifics
Looking ahead
Though short-term trends can be difficult to predict, the changing climate in the state is exacerbating the danger and risk of fires, according to a study from the Meadows Center for Water and the Envi- ronment at Texas State University. Wind, humidity, surface dryness and vegetation presence are all factors that make it difficult to accurately predict short- term trends. Dryness is projected to increase and humidity levels to decrease by 2036, so high-risk periods for statewide wildfire risk are expected to increase considerably, especially in eastern Texas, according to the university. Locally, according to The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, vegetation presence and surface dryness play a large role in contributing to the risk environment.
There are many things to consider in preparing a home to resist damage during a fire. One of the main things people can do to protect their home from a wildfire is to create a fire break. “You want to have what we consider a defensible space around your home. In that defensible space, you want at least 5 or 10 feet around your home where nothing’s going to burn,” Mallinger said. Lt. Matthew Selby with Emergency Services District 4 said homeowners can use xeriscaping, landscaping that reduces or eliminates the need for watering, and noncombustible features to create fire breaks. It’s also important to clean out gutters and make sure trees and plants are trimmed and not touching the house, he said. Mallinger said it’s crucial for people to make sure any grass or shrubs they have are well watered so they are slower to burn, and to adhere to watering restrictions when they are in place. Additionally, homeowners need to get rid of “laddering fuel”—things such as bushes that lead to higher bushes and eventually to trees or the house. Ember awareness is also important, Mallinger said, noting that roof eaves have ventilation holes.
Plants to use for xeriscaping
• Native plants: adapted to local conditions and can help reduce water and maintenance
• Ornamental grasses: drought-tolerant and add texture and movement
• Mediterranean plants: lavender and rosemary thrive in dry conditions
• Wildflowers: drought tolerant and can add color and beauty to xeriscaped landscapes
• Succulents: store water inside them, making them well-suited for xeriscaping
SOURCE: BRAZOS RIVER AUTHORITY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
“That is a lot of times where we see embers fly in and start a fire inside a home or inside a business,” he said.
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