Texas Advisory Council on Arson Asking Public to Help Curb Arson Wildfires

AUSTIN (WBAP/KLIF News) – A high number of recent wildfires is prompting the “Texas Advisory Council on Arson” to ask for the public’s help.

Mark Hanna with ATAC said more than 50 wildfires were reported over the weekend across the Lone Star State.

“So, right now we’re really concerned about wildfires…the very hot dry conditions that we have and we know that many of these fires have been intentionally set,” he said.

Wise County Brush Fire that broke out over the weekend. It’s believed the fire, which is under investigation, started in a wrecking yard.

Fire investigators consider numerous factors when determining whether the high number of outbreaks is due to nature, human error or intentional arson.

“We haven’t had any thunderstorms with lightening to be setting off all these fires. So, often times people for whatever reason are setting these things off,” he said.

Anyone who has information on a case of arson is asked to call the Texas arson hotline at 1-877-4-FIRE.

Tips could pay out as much as $1,000.