Firefighters are warning that Central Texas could face wildfire risks similar to the devastating fires seen in Los Angeles, citing a dangerous combination of dry conditions, wind, and the area's topography.
Bob Nicks, president of the Austin Firefighters Association, told KXAN-TV that the land north and west of Austin is particularly vulnerable due to its terrain and ongoing drought conditions.
"When we do have the high winds, we have the exact same conditions we're seeing in LA, and that's why Austin is considered one of the five-highest risk in the nation," he said. "It's the only one outside California, by the way, nationally to have the chance of catastrophic fires."
He urged the city to take immediate steps to mitigate the wildfire risk.
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