“Firewise’ meetings in Terlingua, Marfa, Valentine

WEST TEXAS – Town hall meetings are scheduled in the coming days for residents in Brewster, Presidio and Jeff Davis counties interested in learning how to protect their homes from wildfire.

Meetings are set for Tuesday, May 31 at the J.W. Pattillo Community Center in Terlingua, Wednesday, June 1 at Marfa City Hall and Thursday, June 2 at the Valentine Community Center.

All meetings are start at 7pm.

Representatives from Texas Forest Service and West Texas fire departments will be on hand to answer questions and talk about what residents can do to protect their home, property and family from the devastation of wildfire.

For example, you can reduce potential losses by adopting Firewise landscaping practices 100 to 200 feet around your home, which includes moving firewood and clearing dead and dense vegetation.

Wildland Urban Interface Specialist Patrick Allen stressed that wildfires are a community-wide problem, which means reducing risks to homes and property is everyone’s responsibility.

“More than 80 percent of wildfires in Texas occur within two miles of a community,” Allen said, reminding residents that wildfires have raged through West Texas before and likely will again. “We want to encourage residents to take proactive measures that could end up saving lives and property.”

For more information, visit www.texasfirestorm.org and www.texasfirewise.org.