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New Wildfires on Texas Refuges

June 25, 2008

Two lightning-caused wildfires have been burning in the San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge near Angleton, Texas but are expected to be completely out within a day. There are no negative impacts from smoke in the area.

The Cow Trap 2008 Fire and the Smith Marsh 2008 Fire both started in the refuge on June 21 approximately five miles from the town of Sargent. As of Wednesday morning,  the Cow Trap Fire had burned 2,682 acres the Smith Marsh Fire had burned 1,765 acres. One five-person fire crew and a helicopter were still monitoring the area. Both fires are 95 percent contained.

Due to dry conditions, there is still a burn ban in place for all counties in the immediate area. 

The 34,679-acre San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge is a stop on the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail and is a well-known spot for wildlife watching. It provides habitat for wintering migratory waterfowl and other bird life. For more information about the San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge, visit www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/texas/texasmidcoast.

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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages public land in every U.S. state and territory, including 547 national wildlife refuges and 69 national fish hatcheries.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages 75 million burnable acres, including 24 million acres of forest/brushland and 4 million acres of grassland.

More than 50% of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lands in the continental U.S. (and more than 90% in Alaska) include fire-adapted ecosystems with vegetation dependent on periodic fire.

An average of 500 wildfires burn 260,000 acres each year on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lands. The Service also burns about 300,000 acres a year using prescribed fire.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service annual fire program budget is approximately $80 million.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employs more than 530 permanent fire professionals, along with 270 seasonal and temporary fire employees during fire season.

More than 3,000 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees are qualified to assist with wildland fire management on an interagency basis.

The U.S. Fish and Wildland Service Fire Management Program protects more than 700 communities and wildland-urban interface areas.

Historically, an acre was the amount of land tillable by one man behind an ox in one day. This measures 90% of a football field. There are 640 acres in a square mile.

More than 90% of the hazardous fuels reduction by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is completed using prescribed fire.