Dallas Fire-Rescue Reveals Wildfire Plan

DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - While wildfires continue to tear through parts of West Texas, fortunately, there have been no wildfires during this outbreak inside a major city like Fort Worth or Dallas.

But Dallas Fire Rescue has spent years developing a specialized plan, just in case, and it was revealed to the Public Safety Committee at Monday's meeting.

The Dallas City Council was shown that fighting a wide-ranging wildfire takes a whole different approach from what's used in a structure blaze.

Dallas firefighters have been at a tactical disadvantage in all the brushfires they've faced up to now, they said.

Now, the city has 200 new, lightweight firefighting outfits – much different from the heavy, insulated coats and pants usually worn in structure fire – along with more flexible hoses and adaptors.

Newly modified brush trucks are quicker compared to the massive equipment needed for daily big-city emergencies, officials said.

The issue is one of flexibility. Trucks and personnel can nimbly get in and out of tight places using the new equipment.

"Everything needs to be much more lightweight in wild land firefighting so that you can sustain for several hours at a time," said Dallas Fire-Rescue Lt. Samuel Friar, who briefed the committee.

With specialized equipment, fewer firefighters need to be rotated in and out of wildfires because they don't tires as quickly.

Thanks to a $200,000 grant, the city received specialized brushfire training for 120 personnel members, along with the equipment upgrades.

It's an emerging challenge: The council was told 85 percent of wildfires occur within two miles of an urban area.

"A lot of our neighbors around us are hurting right now with fires going on," said councilman Jerry Allen, who complimented Dallas Fire Rescue for developing a plan and training before it's needed.

Friar said an emergency could come at any time.

"With the humidity being low and the different forest areas that we have in the city, all we need is an ignition source," he said.

He said such an emergency is not at all far-fetched, with development beginning to crowd in on the Great Trinity Forest.

"Dallas has probably the largest wildlife urban forest in the country," he said, adding, "There are communities encroaching on that forest all the time."

He also said Dallas firefighters trained in wildfires are ready to join the fight in West Texas if asked to do so.