Texas Governor Rick Perry has declared that drought conditions have caused a “state of imminent disaster” and “an extreme fire threat” in 151 counties in the state. This step by the Governor authorizes the Texas Forest Service to establish a multi-agency coordination center at Granbury for wildland fire operations.
Most of the counties in Texas, 168 of them, have burn bans in effect. In Brazoria County the Keetch-Byram Drought Index is above 600 and the rainfall is four-and-a-half inches below normal for the year. Both December and January were extremely dry.
Cathedral fire in Brewster County, Texas, April 24, 2008
