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Bexar County residents are being called on to prevent and report wildfires as gusty winds continued on Wednesday.
But the drought is expected to continue, so wildfire risks will continue to be high this fall and winter.
Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai asked residents not to do anything to spark a wildfire that could quickly get out of hand.
He said the county's wildfire preparedness is high with special firefighting teams staged on opposite sides of the county.
"We got two strike teams called the 'East' and 'West.' (They) are on heightened alert, ready to respond at a moment's notice," he said. "The County's Emergency Operations Center has been partially activated." That center coordinates firefighting activities.
Sakai was flanked by county firefighters, fire chiefs, and representatives of the county fire marshal and emergency management offices for a news conference at County Fire Station 115 in Emergency Service District (ESD) number 7 on Galm Road on the Far Northwest Side.
ESD number 7 Fire Chief Kevin Clarkson said the East and West firefighting teams are highly skilled at what they do.
"These teams are made up of specially trained firefighters that have been out to wildfires across the state and, in some cases, across the country."
Michael Morlan, the deputy chief of the county's emergency management office, said the county will keep residents informed through social media and other means.
"We also ask residents to monitor their mobile devices for any emergency alert notifications that may be issued for evacuation of their neighborhoods," he said.
John Ortega Jr, a deputy fire marshal, said anyone who sparks a fire that causes property damage will be investigated.
"If a fire does result in property damage to somebody else's property and that fire is determined by our investigators to have caused reckless conduct, that is criminally reckless conduct. Then that person could be facing charges of reckless arson, which is a felony," he said.
Sakai warned residents to NOT:
- Conduct outdoor burning
- Weld or grind materials in dry grass
- Discard cigarettes carelessly
- Allow trailer chains to drag along pavement.
County fire officials also said parking a vehicle with a hot engine in tall grass can also spark a wildfire.
