Critical Wildfire Danger Across Texas

COLLEGE STATION (AP) - Bulldozers and airplanes have been put on alert as Texas faces an increased threat for wildfires.

The Texas Forest Service says hot weather, extremely dry vegetation and widespread drought are combining to create dangerous fire conditions through Sunday. The agency says the threat is high for wildfires west of Interstate 35, including the Western and Southern Plains, the Trans Pecos and the Hill Country.

Agency firefighters this year have battled more than 600 blazes burning 70,000 acres. That compares to less than 150 fires blackening about 5,200 acres a year ago.

Crews on Monday contained a 27-acre wildfire in a small border town near Laredo, but not before it destroyed four homes and damaged several others. No injuries were reported in the fire in El Cenizo.

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