As Texas braces for round two of the arctic blast, the west side of the state is preparing for another type of event — wildfires.
On Friday afternoon, the Texas Division of Emergency Management announced that it would deploy state resources to combat potential wildfire threats in the Panhandle, Permian Basin, and West Texas regions.
The reason for this is that dry, dormant grasses and winds gust above 55 miles per hour, will heighten the risk of wildfire activity across these areas.
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“The deployment of wildfire resources across Texas underscores our commitment to protecting lives and property during this heightened wildfire threat,” said Texas Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd in a statement.
TDEM has activated the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System through the Texas A&M Forest Service which includes strike teams including firefighters, fire engines, bulldozers, and motor graders and nine federally-contracted firefighting aircraft.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: TIFMAS deployed to West Texas, Panhandle region ahead of wildfire threat