A hot fire season

We may be in for a drenching today, but unless we get several more storms after this, National Weather Service meteorologists Jack Ciccone and Cody Lindsey's dry and sobering analysis of the Permian Basin's prospects for the ongoing fire season still holds.

Ciccone said the region was in a drought and the temperatures have averaged above normal. Lindsey said the area can quickly dry out after today's storms pass through if we don't get more storms soon after.

Translation: Good conditions for several more grass fires.

Ciccone also predicted a 33 to 38 percent chance of below-average rainfall through April for most of the area between Midland and Fort Davis.

"There's potential for a pretty significant fire season right now," Ciccone said.

West Odessa volunteer fire chief Jimmy Ellis had anticipated a busy fire season and asked the county to start a burn ban. So far, his request hasn't been granted, but the measure is on the county commissioners' agenda again Monday.

"It will be up to the judge, but as far as I'm concerned it should be a total ban for 90 days," he said.

He said he believes the dry weather might have contributed to the 60 or so fire calls the West Odessa volunteer firefighters have handled already in 2009. He also suspected the weather and excessive amount of dry grass "fuel" contributed to the 1,000-acre Jan. 25 fire and the 300-acre Feb. 1 blaze south of the Odessa Petrochemical Complex.

"It was heading toward the houses," Ellis said of the second fire. "Still missed it by quite a ways."

Odessa fire marshal Detra White said Wednesday that the city is investigating both blazes.

Ciccone said the Permian Basin's fire season started early in November and will continue through June.

Burn ban or no burn ban, White suggested people should stop burning trash whenever the winds pick up. Even if the air's still, they should put a metal grid over their trash pile or pit to help keep some of the embers from coming out and creating problems. When using a burn barrel, keep the debris and vegetation away.

White also said people should not try burning their yards as some do during the spring.

As far as preparations on their end goes, White and Odessa public information officer Andrea Goodson said they simply keep on the lookout for fires like they always do. They do not take any extra steps during the fire season.

"They are always prepared. That is their job, and they are always prepared," Goodson said.