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Controlled and prescribed burns, like the one at Ennis Creek Road, near CR 146, Wednesday morning, are allowed, but are recommended to be conducted on days when the wind is less likely to spread the fire.
The year is not two months old, but recent weather patterns and grass fires have been compared to the fires of 2011.
Although Scurry County has not had any fires of the magnitude of 2011, other parts of Texas have had major fires. Last week, nearly 2,000 acres in Knox County burned.
Snyder Deputy Fire Marshal Nathan Hines said there has not been serious consideration to recommend a burn ban to the Scurry County Commissioners’ Court. Of the 254 counties in Texas, 65 are currently under burn bans. Fisher, Garza and Nolan counties are currently under a burn ban.
According to the Texas Forest Service, more than 90 percent of wildfires in Texas are caused by human activities. Most human-caused wildfires are caused by carelessly burning debris.
Hines said if people need to burn debris, they should first be aware of the weather conditions. If the forecast calls for high winds, like Scurry County has seen recently, it is best to postpone a controlled burn until another day.
Hines also said people need to try to create a safe, hazard-free environment when it comes to fire safety.
“Keep wood at least five feet away from your house or property,” Hines said. “When the winds are high, any sort of vegetation or flammable materials can catch fire very quickly.”
For the year, Scurry County is behind 2015 and even 2011 in terms of precipitation totals. Snyder has received 0.14 of an inch of rain this year. This time last year, Snyder received 2.42 inches, while on Feb. 17, 2011, Snyder had received 0.62 inches of rain.