The moisture deficit definitely has county fire officials concerned.
They site more fire in recent days, and are asking residents to think twice about outdoor burning.
"We're not forecasted to receive any significant rainfall so within another week, we could reach significant drought levels," said Montgomery County Fire Marshall, Jimmy Williams.
He blames high temperatures and a long dry spell, and has been keeping a close eye on the fast rising drought index.
"We've risen from a level of 446 last Wednesday to 522 today."
He says crews have responded to as many as four to five fires each day over the last week alone.
"A lot of the fires that you see along the side of the road, are people who had flat tires who continue further and that tire has over heated."
Though a burn ban has not been officially instated, he's asking residents to voluntarily avoid outdoor burning, and to be careful not to spark a grass fire.
"Certainly don't want to discard any cigarettes," said Williams. "Be careful about any welding, cutting, or any other outdoor operations like that involves fire."
Experts say with an increased risk of fires, homeowners should do more to protect their properties:
"Remove any items that could spread a fire into your home, such as a stack of firewood. Move that away from your home. Make sure that your shrubs are cut back away from your house. Make sure the landscaping around your house is well watered. Maintain a green defensive space around your home."
"I keep mulch in here to hold on to the water in the flower beds," said Bill Smelley, a local resident. "I water three times a week and as you could tell, I've got dry spots coming in the yard. I could do more, but water is so expensive too."
Smelley says she's praying for rain so her garden will return back to its brilliant shade.
Again, an official burn ban is not yet in affect for most of our viewing area, with the exception of Galveston County.
Officials say part of the reason is because the salt water killed a lot of the vegetation there during Hurricane Ike.
They site more fire in recent days, and are asking residents to think twice about outdoor burning.
"We're not forecasted to receive any significant rainfall so within another week, we could reach significant drought levels," said Montgomery County Fire Marshall, Jimmy Williams.
He blames high temperatures and a long dry spell, and has been keeping a close eye on the fast rising drought index.
"We've risen from a level of 446 last Wednesday to 522 today."
He says crews have responded to as many as four to five fires each day over the last week alone.
"A lot of the fires that you see along the side of the road, are people who had flat tires who continue further and that tire has over heated."
Though a burn ban has not been officially instated, he's asking residents to voluntarily avoid outdoor burning, and to be careful not to spark a grass fire.
"Certainly don't want to discard any cigarettes," said Williams. "Be careful about any welding, cutting, or any other outdoor operations like that involves fire."
Experts say with an increased risk of fires, homeowners should do more to protect their properties:
"Remove any items that could spread a fire into your home, such as a stack of firewood. Move that away from your home. Make sure that your shrubs are cut back away from your house. Make sure the landscaping around your house is well watered. Maintain a green defensive space around your home."
"I keep mulch in here to hold on to the water in the flower beds," said Bill Smelley, a local resident. "I water three times a week and as you could tell, I've got dry spots coming in the yard. I could do more, but water is so expensive too."
Smelley says she's praying for rain so her garden will return back to its brilliant shade.
Again, an official burn ban is not yet in affect for most of our viewing area, with the exception of Galveston County.
Officials say part of the reason is because the salt water killed a lot of the vegetation there during Hurricane Ike.
