Have a Plan Before the Smoke Appears on the Horizon
Texas wildfires have become more frequent and devastating in recent decades. The 2011 fires burned over 4 million acres across the state. The 2024 Smokehouse Creek Fire became the largest in Texas history, burning over 1 million acres in the Panhandle. For ranchers, wildfire presents a horrible choice: risk everything to save livestock and property, or evacuate and potentially lose years of work.
This guide helps you plan ahead so that when wildfire threatens, you know exactly what to do and when to leave.
Texas Wildfire Risk
When Fires Burn
Peak danger runs from February through April. The conditions that drive the worst fires are high winds (especially from cold fronts), low humidity, accumulated fuel from dead grass and brush, and lack of recent rainfall.
Regional Risk Patterns
| Region | Risk Level | Key Concerns |
|---|---|---|
| Panhandle | Very High | Large ranches, fast-spreading grass fires |
| Cross Timbers | High | Mix of grass and cedar, difficult terrain |
| Hill Country | High | Cedar, rugged terrain, limited access |
| West Texas | High | Grass and brush fires, remote areas |
| South Texas | Moderate-High | Brush fires, drought conditions |
| East Texas | Moderate | Forest fires when dry |
| Coastal | Lower | Higher humidity limits fire spread |
How Fast Fires Move
Fire speed depends on fuel type and condition, terrain (uphill burns faster), and humidity levels. In moderate winds, grass fires move at 5-15 mph. With high winds and dry grass, speeds reach 15-30+ mph. Under extreme conditions, fire can outrun a person on foot.
The Evacuation Decision
When to Leave
Leave immediately if you receive an evacuation order, if smoke is thick enough to limit visibility, or if you feel unsafe. Leave early if conditions are extreme (high wind, low humidity, drought), if you have livestock that takes time to move, if you have elderly or disabled family members, or if your evacuation routes are limited.
Don't Wait for Orders
The reasons for early departure stack up fast: roads become congested, smoke reduces visibility, conditions deteriorate rapidly, and first responders may not reach rural areas in time.
Creating Your Evacuation Plan
Step 1: Know Your Property
Map out the location of every gate and how it opens, multiple exit routes from the property, the location of fuel, propane, and chemical storage, water sources for firefighting, and any firebreaks or cleared areas. Identify vulnerabilities: steep terrain that accelerates fire, bottlenecks in evacuation routes, and areas with limited access.
Step 2: Establish Evacuation Routes
For your primary route, know the exact travel time and keep it clear of obstacles. Your secondary route may be longer but necessary if the primary is blocked. Consider the direction fire is likely to approach from. General principles: prefer paved over gravel or dirt, know gate combinations on all routes, and think about which direction fire typically comes from in your area.
Step 3: Plan for Livestock
Prioritize animals in tiers. First priority goes to horses and animals with transportation available, breeding stock, show animals, and animals that can be moved quickly. Second priority covers livestock near buildings and animals in small pens. Your last resort is to move livestock away from structures and avoid confining animals that can't be transported.
Identify destinations ahead of time: livestock auction facilities, fairgrounds, other family properties, and commercial hauling contacts.
Step 4: Prepare Essential Items
Documents and personal items:
- Insurance policies
- Livestock registration papers
- Identification for family
- Medications (people and animals)
- Phone chargers
- Cash
- Change of clothes
- Pet carriers and supplies
- Water
- First aid kit
- Blankets
- Phone/radio
- Flashlight
- Stock trailer always ready to hitch
- Feed for 3+ days
- Water containers
- Health papers for crossing county lines
Step 5: Prepare Your Property
Create defensible space by removing dead brush and grass, trimming trees so branches don't touch structures, clearing gutters of debris, and moving firewood away from buildings. Manage fuel loads by removing cedar and brush near buildings, creating firebreaks along fence lines, and keeping roads and driveways clear. For water access, maintain stock tank levels, keep hoses and pumps accessible, and consider a drafting hydrant for the fire department.
When Fire Approaches
Immediate Actions
For structures: Close all windows and doors. Remove flammable curtains from windows. Turn off propane at the tank and move propane tanks away from structures if possible. Leave interior lights on (this helps firefighters see in smoke). Leave gates open for fire equipment, and leave a note with your cell number and evacuation location.
For livestock: Remove halters and any synthetic materials. Open gates to large pastures. If possible, move animals to pastures with less fuel. Do not release animals onto roadways. Mark trailers with your contact info.
If Trapped by Fire
In a vehicle: Roll up windows and close vents. Turn headlights on. Lie on the floor below windows and cover yourself with a jacket or blanket. The fire front will pass in seconds to minutes.
In open ground: Lie face down. Cover exposed skin. Breathe through cloth near the ground and stay down until the fire passes.
In a building: Move to a room away from the fire's approach. Close all doors. Fill sinks and tubs with water. Stay low to avoid smoke.
Working with First Responders
Before Fire Season
Meet your local fire department. Show them water access points, explain your layout and gate access, provide contact information, and ask about mutual aid resources.
During a Fire
If you can help safely, point out water sources, share knowledge of terrain, and offer equipment if it's useful. Do not re-enter evacuated areas without permission, attempt firefighting without training, or block roads or equipment access.
Communication During Evacuation
Stay Connected
Monitor official information through the sheriff's department, fire department social media, radio stations, and Texas A&M Forest Service (texas.gov). Keep devices charged with a car charger and battery backup. Consider a satellite communicator for remote areas.
Family Communication Plan
Establish a check-in schedule, designate a meeting location if separated, and determine how livestock status will be communicated.
After Evacuation
Returning Safely
Wait until authorities confirm roads are passable and utilities have been assessed. Be aware of weakened structures, watch for fallen power lines, and use caution around burned trees that can fall without warning.
Assessing Damage
For property, make a list of losses, contact insurance immediately, and keep receipts for all expenses. For livestock, check for injuries and burns, provide clean water, assess pasture damage, and plan for feed if pastures burned.
Insurance and Documentation
Before a Fire
Review your policies and update them for new structures and equipment. Consider livestock mortality insurance and document the value of improvements. Keep records of equipment serial numbers, livestock inventories, and receipts for major purchases. Store copies off-site (cloud storage or safe deposit box).
Making a Claim
Document everything before cleanup. Keep all receipts and track additional living expenses. Don't accept the first offer without thorough review.
Community Wildfire Preparedness
Neighborhood Coordination
Work with neighbors on shared livestock evacuation locations, equipment sharing agreements, and plans for who helps whom during evacuation.
Volunteer Fire Department Support
Consider donating equipment or supplies, providing food and water during fires, and offering property for staging.
Special Situations
Working Alone When Fire Approaches
Have an escape route planned, keep your vehicle ready for immediate departure, don't attempt heroic saves alone, and remember that your life is the priority.
Elderly or Disabled Family Members
Identify helpers in advance, arrange transportation, pre-register with special needs programs, and ensure medications travel with them.
Pet Evacuation
Have food and medication packed, keep identification current, know which evacuation shelters accept pets, and don't leave pets behind.
Bottom Line
Leave early. Don't wait for evacuation orders if you feel unsafe. Plan your evacuation routes (primary and secondary) and know them cold. Tier your livestock so the most valuable move first, and open gates if time runs out.
Create defensible space by clearing 30+ feet around structures. Keep a go-bag with documents always packed. Communicate your plan to family, neighbors, and authorities. Your life comes first, because no livestock or property is worth dying for.
Document everything for insurance and recovery purposes. Work with your fire department, since they need your local knowledge. And practice your plan, because a plan you've never practiced isn't really a plan at all.
Related Articles
- Ranch Fire Prevention Plan
- Grass and Brush Fire Prevention
- Emergency Evacuation Planning
- Working with Fire Departments
Texas Resources
- Texas A&M Forest Service: Wildfire risk assessment, firewise information
- Texas Division of Emergency Management: Evacuation resources
- Local Extension Office: Community wildfire preparedness programs
- Texas AgriLife Extension: Livestock evacuation guidance
