Austin Faces Wildfire Risks Comparable to LA, Warns Firefighters Association President

As Los Angeles deals with devastating wildfires, Bob Nicks, President of the Austin Firefighters Association, worries that the same thing could happen in Austin if safety measures are not taken.

"If things go well, what we see in LA could happen here," Nicks said. Austin's northwest and west parts are among the five most likely places in the country (besides California) for wildfires. These parts have thick vegetation, high fuel loads, and dry weather.

Hurricane-force winds are blowing through Los Angeles right now, making fires easier to spread. Nicks said Austin has also experienced strong winds, such as during the 2011 Bastrop fires. "When everything comes together, we might see something like what's happening in LA," he said.

Nicks stressed how important it was to move quickly in three main areas:

Wildland-Urban Interface Code: Make it more difficult for fuel to spread in high-risk places.

Putting out fires: There are no new ladder trucks; the last one was added in 1995. These trucks have very well-trained captains who are needed for tactical reactions.

Staffing: The AFD needs to hire more firefighters to ensure they can respond quickly and effectively.

Nicks told the crowd that the "dirty little secret" about fighting big fires is that they are almost impossible to control once they get too big. "You don't have enough water or tools to put out that fire's head," he said.

Nicks talked about being ready and preventing problems, and he urged people in Austin and city leaders to act now. He said, "We need to do more. We've done a lot." "We need to cut down on fuels, strengthen our forces, and stay ready to act."

The warning is a call to action to keep the central city from facing a disaster.

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