Threat of Wildfires

Tarrant County issues disaster declaration due to threat of wildfires.

With Tarrant County experiencing severe drought conditions, Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley signed on Friday an emergency disaster declaration.

The extreme hot and dry conditions pose the threat of large and fast-moving wildfires, which have the potential of endangering lives and damaging property on a large scale.

The Texas Government Code Chapter 418 gives the County Judge the power to declare a local disaster within the county “if the threat of disaster is imminent.”

The magnitude of the potential damage and the rapidity with which such a fire could escalate to major proportions constitute an imminent threat of disaster; and has been experienced in Tarrant County previously.

By issuing the declaration, it gives Tarrant County the opportunity to pursue other avenues of reimbursement and assistance. But both the state and each affected county must meet fiscal thresholds to be eligible for FEMA assistance.

Renewal of Disaster Declaration (Posted August 2nd, 2022)

Wildfire Disaster Declaration (Posted July 29th, 2022)