Texas is dry. Large portions of the state are experiencing drought conditions ranging from exceptional to abnormally dry.

Landowners should take preventive measures now to help alleviate the chance of wildfires while also protecting their property and livelihood.

"Some areas that enjoyed rains early this year and grew some grass -- we're seeing wildfire potential in those areas because it has turned off dry," said Wayne Hanselka, a Texas AgriLife Extension range specialist based in Corpus Christi.

San Antonio and Austin sit in the bullseye of exceptional drought which expands outward throughout the state's midsection. The San Antonio area has received only 13.51 inches of precipitation this year, creating a rain deficit of 17.66 inches, according to the National Weather Service in Fort Worth.

This year, Texas firefighters have responded to 15,676 fires which have burned more than 1.5 million acres, rivaling the more than 1.9 million acres burned by wildfires in 2006.

The 2006 wildfires started in January. Weather conditions were ripe to expedite wildfires at the time -- high winds and temperatures, low humidity and a lot of fuel, Hanselka said.

"If rain doesn't return by mid-January, then wildfires and the potential for wildfires will be increasing from January through mid-April for the droughty areas," said Joe Harris, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Fort Worth.

Other factors that can contribute to further drying of fuel sources and possible fires includes die-back of forages that are on the verge of winter dormancy and frost. It only takes a lightning strike or spark from a vehicle's catalytic converter, a cigarette or a welding torch to ignite a fuel source.

Fireguards around pastures, houses, ranch facilities and fuel sources are an effective method of protecting property from wildfires. Hanselka said that owners of small properties should consider fireguards just as larger operations do.

"For some reason or the other we have become very lax in putting in fireguards and maintaining them," Hanselka said. "It doesn't matter the size of the property. Fire's not going to be a respecter of size."

He said that after the wildfires of 2006, he noticed while driving around South and Central Texas that 95 percent of the pastures did not have fireguards around them.

"Those that did primarily were those that were planning on installing a prescribed burn," he said.

He recommended that fireguards be at least 10 to 20 feet wide. He explained that wildfires driven by strong winds can create flame fronts towering six to eight feet tall.

Bladed or graded fireguards are preferred. Double-lined fireguards also are effective. This is when two fireguards or strips are dug with 50 to 100 yards between them, he said.

"Blade out two strips with a space in between them and when you have a calm day and high humidity, burn out the fuel in between those two lines," Hanselka said. "Once burned, it's black and called a black line. That's a good fuel management program."

Fireguards should be cleared of dead grass. If these areas are disked, then they should be disked as clean as possible. Landowners or first responders should be able to drive down fireguards if trucks or tractors carrying water sources are needed.

"[Grass] will act as a bridge to bridge the fire across the fireguard," Hanselka said.

The devastating and crippling drought of 2006 that helped fuel wildfires is still fresh on many peoples minds. That year, wildfires caused economic losses estimated at $500,790,068.

Firefighters who battle these blazes include state agencies such as the Texas Forest Service and local fire departments. On average, the Texas Forest Service responds to 12 percent of the state's wildfires that burn an estimated 74 percent of Texas' land.

In a year's span from 2005 to 2006, local fire departments responded to 18,786 fires that burned 517,380 acres. The Texas Forest Service responded to 2,510 fires that burned 1,469,748 acres.

Local volunteer fire departments are usually first responders to wildfires. However, if numerous fires pop up, increase in size or cover inaccessible terrain, firefighters from the Texas Forest Service respond.

With 65 of Texas' 254 counties currently under outdoor burn bans, landowners should remain vigilant in preventing fires.

"The number one thing with anybody, if you have an outdoor ban in effect in your county, that generally applies to unincorporated areas, so we encourage ranchers to go along with the burn ban," said Mahlon Hammetter, a fire prevention specialist with the Texas Forest Service.

Hammetter offered some basic ranch and rural fire safety tips.

"Our biggest cause probably of wildfires is debris and trash burning," he said.

He recommended establishing wide firebreaks around property, burn pits and barrels before lighting a fire. A metal grid or mesh should also be kept on top of burn barrels to help keep burning materials inside.

Welding equipment is another cause. Sparks from a welding torch can touch off fires. Hammetter said before welding to clear vegetation, wet the area down, use a welding mat and have another person watching for spot fires caused by flying sparks.

He sees many fires started by welding sparks in winter because frost has dried out fuel, humidity is low and winds can pick up.

Another tip: Avoid parking and driving in dry, tall grass, because catalytic converters can catch the grass on fire. He also stressed the importance of educating hunters about fire safety .

"Over 90 percent of the fires in Texas are caused by people and their actions," Hammetter said.

E-mail Beverly Moseley at beverly.moseley@theeagle.com.

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