By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
Val Verde County Fire Rescue Department Chief Jorge Vargas and his firefighters are keeping a close eye on the weather, with high winds in the forecast through the weekend.
The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today, a red flag warning from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and a fire weather watch from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday.
“Strong west to northwest winds and very dry air behind the front will bring critical fire conditions across much of South Central Texas,” the NWS wrote in its red flag warning, adding, “Strong winds and very dry air are forecast across all of South Central Texas on Saturday and will result in another critical fire weather day.”
The NWS used the same language in its fire weather alert for Saturday.
burned along Vega Verde Road Wednesday night. Vargas and several other county
firefighters returned to the site of the fire this morning to extinguish smoldering “hot
spots.” (Photo by Karen Gleason)
Winds are expected to diminish slightly on Sunday, with gusts to 25 miles per hour expected on Sunday and gusts to 30 miles per hour expected Monday.
Vargas told The 830 Times Thursday he believes his department is as prepared as it can be.
“You can never prepare for everything, but we’re always ready, always on standby to do what we need to do,” Vargas said as he drove the equipment-laden pickup designated “Command 1” to the site of a fire that had burned an area of dense trees and brush between the railroad tracks and Vega Verde Road on Thursday morning.
Vargas and one of the county fire department’s brush trucks returned to the scene of the fire, which had started late Wednesday afternoon, to extinguish several “hot spots” that were still smoldering.
Vargas said his department earlier this month was called to the Moody Ranch along the Rio Grande in the southeastern corner of the county to combat a fire in the carrizo cane brakes along the river.
“It’s really difficult to put out a fire like that, especially when you’ve got 50 mile-an-hour winds,” Vargas said.
Vargas said he and his firefighters rely on training to prepare them for the county’s unique firefighting challenges.
“My background is on the structural firefighting side. I did that for about 21 years, so this is all fairly new to me, as well, but through training and experience, we’re able stay ready,” the chief said.
Vargas said he also relies on the county commissioners and their road crews and equipment.
“I’m very fortunate to have the commissioners. They’re always on standby for big events, and they will provide equipment like loaders and bulldozers to help us out,” Vargas said.
He noted members of the Precinct 4 road crew joined his firefighters at the scene of the Vega Verde Road fire on Wednesday and used the precinct’s heavy equipment to cut paths through the dense vegetation to make it easier for firefighters to access burning areas.
Vargas said he also stays in close contact with representatives from the Texas Department of Emergency Management (TDEM) and the Texas Forest Service.
“It’s a team effort. Like I said, my first calls, are to the commissioners of the precinct where the fire is located, getting them involved and telling them exactly what I need. While we were fighting this fire on Wednesday, Commissioner Flores called me and asked me what I needed, and I told him I needed some dozers and front-end loaders to clear some of this land, because as you can see, it’s very dense here. It’s very hard to fight a fire if you can’t get to it, so they made paths for us, and we were able to get to these fires,” Vargas said.
He said on Wednesday, he also received help from the Del Rio Fire Department, which sent two attack trucks and firefighters to assist.
Vargas reminded county property owners there is a county-wide burn ban in effect until April 15, and the chief said he will ask for the burn ban to be renewed for an additional 90 days after the current ban expires.
“A lot of people are under the misconception that they live out in the county and can burn whatever they want, and a lot of people burn trash, but they’re not supposed to, and that in itself has a lot to so with some fires spreading,” Vargas said.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com.
