2021 Texas wildfires


The 2021 Texas wildfires were a series of wildfires in Texas in 2021.

Background

Dormant Fire Season

From Mid-February to Mid-April, vegetation is often dead or dormant. Combined with dry winds, low humidity, and La Niña-related conditions, fuels can ignite more easily—and once started, fires spread rapidly due to these atmospheric patterns. This timeframe sees elevated wildfire activity in the absence of vegetation green-up.
Brad Smith of Texas A&M Forest Service notes this aligns with La Niña cycles, which intensify dryness and wind in winter into spring.

Growing-Season Peak

From March to May, as vegetation greens up and then dries, especially after a wet winter, the combination of abundant grass fuel, warmer, drier weather, and occasional lightning can ignite severe wildfires. These months contribute to a significant proportion of the state's largest fires.

Year-Round Risk

Over time, Texas has seen a trend toward year-round wildfire risk, driven by changing land use, climate trends, and increased human activity. According to Fire Chief Wes Moorehead, what used to be two distinct seasons have blurred, as fire conditions now show up in all months. This is further compounded by climate change, which has extended "fire weather"—days combining heat, dryness, and wind—raising wildfire potential across the state.

List of wildfires

A total of 20,478 acres burned in the 2021 Texas wildfires. This is a list of fires that have burned over 1,000 acres.
NameCountyAcresStart dateContainment dateNotesRef-
Bent TwigShackelford1,1005 2 20218 3 2021First large fire of the year-
KingBrooks11,27817 3 202120 3 2021-
BaffinKenedy4,80020 3 202121 3 2021-
South Rim 4Brewster1,3418 4 20215 5 2021-
DogCulberson1,95911 5 20216 7 2021Lightning-caused