Dear Neighbors,

Wildfire is arguably Austin’s greatest natural threat. We know the best time to prepare is before a wildfire occurs. May is Wildfire Awareness Month and I want to encourage everyone to play their role in wildfire prevention and preparedness.  

At the City, I have engaged multiple departments and we now approach wildfire as a key risk and shared responsibility across the organization. Wildfire is no longer just the Austin Fire Department’s fight. We are actively working to improve the resilience of our landscapes and infrastructure, and collaborating to enhance detection and improve response readiness. 

Together we adopted the Wildland Urban Interface Code to require the hardening of new homes and renovations in high risk areas. We accelerated vegetation management along our energy lines and near our water infrastructure. We revised our protocols governing prescribed burns, a key tool for our water quality protection lands. We are training all of our firefighters in the next level wildfire training called “Responding to the Interface”. We created a wildfire battalion and opened the new Loop360- Davenport Fire / EMS station this spring. 

Additionally, we now regularly participate in wildfire preparedness exercises across the region and are building out situational awareness tools and updated policies for evacuation that will serve us for many disaster scenarios. This summer the council will adopt a new land management plan for our parks and preserves. Significantly, this year we will work with the County and others to pursue a major update to our Community Wildfire Protection Plan. 

During Wildfire Awareness Month, I invite you to take steps to ensure that you and your family can stay safe before, during, and after a fire event. That starts with knowing your risk. The Wildfire Division at the Austin Fire Department (AFD) has put together a Wildfire Report for each Council district. You may review District 10’s Wildfire Risk Report and search for others here. Remember it is not just the initial fire that can be of concern, but also the embers and smoke.

As you assess your geographical risk and prepare your home, please consider the following actions you can take to protect your family from the threat of wildfire: 

• Regularly monitor wildfire conditions. Hot, dry, and windy weather creates the perfect environment for a wildfire. Current conditions are available at the Austin Area Wildfire Hub, a portal for community-based wildfire safety initiatives in Austin and Travis County. 

• Sign up for Warn Central Texas, a free, opt-in emergency notification service. You can receive disaster alerts via app, text, call, or email, along with safety instructions and evacuation orders. I urge you to select several alert methods. Only residents in the immediate area of impact will be alerted. During a wildfire event, pay attention to all alerts. Do not wait to be advised to leave if there is a possible threat to your home or evacuation route. Keep in mind that embers can travel up to 1.5 miles from the main fire and start fires elsewhere. 

• Create a Wildfire Action Plan for your family (and your pets!) using the Austin-Travis County Wildfire Coalition’s Ready, Set, Go! Guide. You can also use the Texas Department of State Health and Services’ Family Emergency Plan template, and their Texas Ready Children’s Activity Book. 

• Learn all possible evacuation routes in your area. In the event of an emergency, your usual route may not be safe, and you or your family may not be at home when a wildfire starts. Listen to instructions from local officials about where to go and which roads may be closed. Conditions may change quickly and routes may need to be altered. If you are advised to evacuate, do not hesitate–seconds matter. Material items can be replaced, your life cannot. Pack an easily accessible Go Kit with emergency supplies.

• Harden your home to make it more fire resistant by creating defensible space on your property and implementing fire-smart landscaping practices. The Austin Fire Department has created an excellent fire prevention guide for roofing and ventilation openings. You can also find tips in the National Fire Protection Association’s Firewise USA brochure and home ignition zone checklist. The Texas A&M Forest Service has also crafted a guide to help fortify your property from embers.

• Connect with your local Firewise community. Through this program, Austin Fire Department’s Wildfire Division assists neighborhoods in becoming Fire Adapted Communities. Several neighborhoods in District 10 are already Firewise and we would like to work with other areas to connect you with resources. In particular, if you live in the Cat Mountain, Castleton Village, Marby’s Ridge, Prominent Point, or The Bluffs at Great Hills Area neighborhoods and are interested in becoming a Firewise leader, please email my office at District10@austintexas.gov.

I am proud of the progress we’ve made to protect our community from the dangers of wildfire while also mindful that we have more we can and should do. Each of us has an important role to play in making Austin safer and more resilient. I hope you will take the above steps and join me in practicing wildfire preparedness year-round. To hear more about the City’s wildfire preparedness efforts, I invite you to join me at the opening celebration for the new Loop 360/Davenport Fire & EMS station at 4601 Westlake Drive! I’ll be speaking at the grand opening on Friday, May 26th at 1 pm.

In the remainder of this newsletter, you will find information on District 10 office hours, a budget engagement survey, federal energy rebate resources, and more.

Regards,