Publication Date October 28, 2015 | Associated Press

Drought, Other Factors Contribute to Larger Texas Wildfires

United States
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/102b188340e943f9bdd839d476b5216b/drought-other-factors-contribute-larger-texas-wildfires
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/102b188340e943f9bdd839d476b5216b/drought-other-factors-contribute-larger-texas-wildfires

Larger, more threatening wildfires are occurring at greater rates as Texas faces lingering drought, consistent development...and changes in how the state's land is used...The forest service responded to just one wildfire of at least 5,000 acres from 1985 to 2000, but in the last 15 years there have been fires of that size nearly every year. There were 27 fires at least that size in 2008 and 76 in 2011. Four years ago, the Bastrop County Complex wildfire that destroyed more than 1,650 homes proved to be the most destructive in Texas history.