Texas Fires

Daily Wildfire Report for Texas - July 12, 2026

Overview

Texas is currently at a Wildfire Preparedness Level 2, indicating that wildland fire activity is increasing and requires additional state and local resources. While recent rainfall has slowed the drying of fuels across parts of East Texas and the Gulf Coast, minimal forecasted precipitation combined with hot summer temperatures is promoting the rapid drying of surface fuels in the western and central parts of the state. The overall fire potential is peaking in areas with rainfall deficits, exacerbated by persistent atmospheric patterns resembling La Niña.

Current Situation

Fire Activity: Over the past 72 hours, wildfire activity has flared up again following a brief lull. The Texas A&M Forest Service has responded to multiple new fire starts driven by hot and dry conditions, particularly in the Rolling Plains and Hill Country regions. In recent days, agencies have responded to dozens of requests for assistance on wildfires burning thousands of acres. Fire activity is forecast to continue increasing along and west of the I-35 corridor and into South Texas.

Key Fires:

• Cusenbarry Draw Fire: Located approximately 12 miles south of Sonora in Sutton County, this fire started on July 9, 2026, and has burned an estimated 1,200 acres. It is primarily being fueled by dry brush. The fire has exhibited moderate behavior with smoldering, and crews are actively working to establish and reinforce containment lines.
• Getaway Pens Fire: Located northeast of Girard in Dickens County, this blaze sparked on July 8, 2026, and has scorched approximately 1,000 acres. It is currently 80% contained. Fueled by cured native grasses and brush, the fire previously exhibited moderate to active behavior, including single tree torching, running, and spotting. Firefighters have been battling steep terrain and dry fuels to secure the perimeter.

Prescribed Burns and Land Management: The Texas A&M Forest Service is currently accepting applications for the Mechanical Fuel Reduction Grant and Prescribed Fire Grant, with the deadline approaching on July 14, 2026. These reimbursement programs are designed to help landowners reduce wildfire risk to communities and natural resources. Additionally, numerous counties across the state have implemented active outdoor burn bans. Several counties have also adopted conditional "Red Flag Warning" Burn Ban Orders, which strictly prohibit outdoor burning whenever the National Weather Service issues a Red Flag Warning for the area.

Air Quality: Lingering light-density smoke from fire activity in the southwestern U.S., as well as international fires, continues to drift into parts of Texas. While most of the smoke is expected to remain aloft, it may cause mild irritation for sensitive groups in affected regions.

Weather and Wind Warnings

Current Weather: Hot summer conditions and minimal rainfall are present across much of the state, with triple-digit temperatures observed in several regions over the weekend.
Forecasted Weather: A strong drying trend is expected to continue. Wind speeds are forecast to increase into the upper teens across the western half of the state. These breezy winds, paired with low relative humidity values dropping into the mid-20s to low 30s, will align with increasingly dry surface fuels in the southwest Rolling Plains and High Plains Predictive Service Areas. This combination will result in elevated initial attack potential for new fire starts, and Red Flag Warnings may be issued locally as conditions dictate.

Recommendations

Public Awareness: With hot, dry, and windy conditions persisting, officials are urging Texans to avoid outdoor burning, stay strictly alert to local county burn bans, and have an evacuation plan ready. Residents should use extreme caution with any outdoor activities that could produce sparks, as dry dormant grasses can cause fires to spread rapidly.
Resource Allocation: The Texas A&M Forest Service is monitoring the situation closely and has prepositioned personnel and equipment across areas of concern to ensure an efficient and effective response to new ignitions. Agencies are prioritizing initial attack responses to keep new fires as small as possible.

Resources

For up-to-date emergency information, residents can visit:
National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC): www.nifc.gov/fire-information/nfn
Texas A&M Forest Service - Current Situation: tfsweb.tamu.edu/CurrentSituation
Texas Burn Ban Map: tfsweb.tamu.edu/Burnbans

Stay informed and prepared by monitoring these resources regularly.