Officials warn sparks from chains, ATVs or cigarettes could ignite fires at Sand Drags скачать в хорошем качестве

Officials warn sparks from chains, ATVs or cigarettes could ignite fires at Sand Drags

A popular tradition in Potter County is taking place at the Canadian River this weekend. “It gets crazy out there sometimes, especially when people drink alcohol or whatever, but there’s also incidents that happen with rollovers and anything like that,” said Dustin Langwell, lieutenant with Potter County Sheriff’s Office. “We need the sheriff’s office out there so we can respond quickly and keep the public safe.” “It is the Sand Drags, and due to the Lavender Fire, that is still burning across the landscape of the Texas Panhandle, multiple agencies are going to be here on patrol to make sure a fire doesn’t start or spread right here along the Canadian River. “Potter County is under a burn ban, and we are going to have zero tolerance with reckless behavior with the fires,” said Langwell. “I mean, a small fire with these winds, it can take off like this big fire we have up north.” “We want to be really careful with roadside starts with dragging chains with trailers, driving ATVs or UTVs on grass, parking your vehicles on grass,” said Emery Johnson, public information officer with Texas A&M Forest Service. “Any sort of potential of a spark, even a cigarette flicked on the grass in these conditions, can definitely start a fire that can get out of control really fast.” The winds are going to be up through Friday night here at the Canadian River, so anyone who arrives to take part in the activities will need to take caution. “It’s a volatile situation out there, and these winds shift, and this current fire that’s going on goes towards the river, people are going to have to listen to law enforcement and firefighters, and they're going to have to get out immediately,” said Langwell. As fire crews continue to battle the Lavender Fire, multiple law enforcement agencies and state agencies are going to be at the Canadian River around the clock. For more news from the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles and Eastern New Mexico, visit www.ABC7Amarillo.com. You can also download our app, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.