Texas Faces Heightened Wildfire Risks Amid Dry, Windy Conditions

Crews battle blazes in the Texas Panhandle as Red Flag Warnings issued for several counties.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Texas is facing an elevated risk of wildfires due to warmer-than-normal temperatures, low humidity, and gusty winds. The Texas A&M Forest Service is currently fighting two large wildfires in the Panhandle region, and fire departments from Dallas, Plano, and Fort Worth have sent personnel and equipment to assist. Authorities are urging residents to be cautious and avoid activities that could spark fires, as nine out of ten wildfires are caused by human activity.

Why it matters

Wildfires pose a serious threat to communities in Texas, especially during periods of dry, windy weather. These conditions can cause small fires to rapidly grow out of control, leading to property damage, disruptions to daily life, and potential loss of life. Proactive measures to prevent and respond to wildfires are crucial to protecting public safety.

The details

The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for several North Texas counties, including Young, Jack, Montague, and Cooke, due to the heightened fire risk. Fire departments from major cities like Dallas, Plano, and Fort Worth have deployed personnel and equipment to help battle the blazes in the Texas Panhandle. Authorities are urging residents to be cautious, avoid activities that could spark fires, and clear any flammable materials away from their homes.

  • On Thursday, the National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning for Young, Jack, Montague, and Cooke counties until 7 p.m.

The players

Texas A&M Forest Service

A state agency responsible for managing and protecting Texas' forests and natural resources, including responding to wildfires.

Dallas Fire-Rescue

The fire department serving the city of Dallas, which has sent two pieces of equipment with eight firefighters and two ambulances with a crew of seven to assist in fighting the wildfires.

Plano Fire Department

The fire department serving the city of Plano, which has deployed four people and a brush truck to help fight the fires.

Fort Worth Fire Department

The fire department serving the city of Fort Worth, which has sent seven people to help fight fires in Alice, Amarillo, and Borger.

National Weather Service

The federal agency responsible for weather forecasting and issuing weather-related warnings, including the Red Flag Warning for several North Texas counties.

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What they’re saying

“We are seeing warmer than normal temperatures, and then also we're seeing relatively low humidity and coupled that with winds as well as dry vegetation.”

— Laura Stevens, Spokesperson, Texas A&M Forest Service (nbcdfw.com)

“[It's] that time of the year again to where we're seeing these requests start to come in. One of those teams is actually going to be coming back on Sunday and we're actually sending another group of four out there tomorrow to meet up with them to relieve them from their duties up in Amarillo so they can come back home and get some rest.”

— Craig Trojacek, Spokesperson, Fort Worth Fire Department (nbcdfw.com)

“Even though North Texas experienced some rain this past weekend and there may be hopefully a possibility of some rain upcoming, it just takes a couple of days of above normal temperatures and just windy conditions to dry that vegetation out.”

— Laura Stevens, Spokesperson, Texas A&M Forest Service (nbcdfw.com)

“Because by the time we get there with the winds of the way they are, we'd rather have resources there in place to combat whatever size that fire is at that point in time than trying to play catch-up.”

— Craig Trojacek, Spokesperson, Fort Worth Fire Department (nbcdfw.com)

What’s next

The Texas A&M Forest Service and local fire departments will continue to monitor the situation and respond to any new wildfire outbreaks as needed. Residents are advised to remain vigilant and take precautions to prevent fires.

The takeaway

The heightened wildfire risk in Texas underscores the importance of proactive fire prevention and preparedness efforts, as well as the need for coordinated emergency response from state and local authorities. Residents can play a crucial role by being cautious with activities that could spark fires and clearing any flammable materials around their homes.