The number of patches of scorched earth on the side of the highway are increasing as the summer progresses where fire has licked up trees leaving once green vegetation brown and brittle and an unmistakable charred mark in the grass.
Although most highway fires are almost always unintentional, a large amount of these incidents are completely preventable.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, human activity accounts for 90 percent of all the state’s wildfires.
A California study showed that 74 percent of fires in national forests originated within 10 feet of a roadway. Texas averages 3,586 reported grass fires on roadsides annually (equivalent to one fire per 21 miles of roadway). Blanco County saw five roadway fires in 2018.
Roadside fires start for a multitude of reasons including, discarded cigarettes, glass litter, chain dragging, and improper vehicle maintenance to just name a few.
“I recommend that everyone check their tire pressure and keep up with regular maintenance on their vehicle, make sure things on vehicles and trailers are secure,” Matt McMain, ESD No. 2 Fire Chief said. “And of course we believe everyone should keep all their trash inside their car, not just the glass, which can be extremely hazardous during dry conditions.”
In January 2018 just east of Blanco, Hays County experienced a 750-acre grass fire that was ignited from a chain dragging incident.
Most recently, in July the charter bus fire carrying kids from summer camp just north of Johnson City was ignited from the tires.
The smallest sparks can wreak havoc on roadsides in the right conditions. When hauling a trailer make sure the safety chain is attached securely and will not touch the ground.
Under-inflated tires are a contributing factor to roadway fires as well. Under inflated tires cause the casing of the tire to continually bend and flex, and, like a piece of metal bent back and forth, the tire becomes hotter and hotter until a fire breaks out.
While in most standard four-tire vehicles the quality of the way the vehicle handles should cause us to take notice before a fire breaks out, this can be quite detrimental to a vehicle with four tires on one axle, as the quality of driving can go unnoticed.
“Wildfires can start by a small spark along a roadway and those fires that burn in dry grass can be incredibly fast moving,” Megan Radke, Texas A&M Forest Service Wildfire Prevention Educaiton Team. “We ask that the public take extra care when securing trailer chains and maintaining trailer brakes and wheel bearings. It’s also advised not to park and then idle in tall, dry grass. Catalytic Converters can get hot enough to ignite the grass underneath the vehicle.
These roadside fires aren’t just dangerous because of the risk of wildfire that could potentially spread to pastures, animals and homes but smoke from roadside fires reduces visibility and is a distinct traffic hazard, particularly on two-lane roads.
California has the most comprehensive studies on roadside fires due to its highly flammable natural fuels and weather conditions, meaning it is hot and dry just like Texas.
Using this information TxDOT is constantly working on ‘pre-suppression of roadside fires’ by using concrete and medians but drivers and passengers must do their part to keep the risk of fire down to a minimum.
