Fire danger is extremely high in the North Palo Duro Canyon. Along the breaks and within the canyon we have high winds that could damage the high-voltage transmission lines and towers proposed by Sharyland Utilities, especially during tornadic thunderstorms.
At the Currie Ranch, where the proposed transmission lines will cross, there have been many instances where storms have transformed large grain bins or other such items into heaps of twisted metal. Such weather events could easily damage high-voltage lines and towers and lead to a fire.
Small animals or birds that come in contact with the line could also start a fire. This is probably one of the greatest risks given the heavy concentration of birds that fly over the canyon daily. Also, lightning could cause an arc off of the lines to the trees in or near the canyon and start a fire.
Making matters worse, the canyon is full of tall, dense trees and brush and is inaccessible to local firefighters. Few roads extend to the rim and they become impassable, especially for firetrucks loaded with water, during and after a rainstorm.
As for fighting fires by air, the Amarillo area does not have the planes, trained pilots and other personnel to fight such fires by air as they do in California, for instance. Even if we had such capabilities, they do not appear to be very effective in extinguishing canyon fires in high-wind regions such as the Texas Panhandle.
Also, water cannot be dumped or sprayed near a transmission line due to the danger of electrocution to those on the ground, an obstacle that will further hinder firefighters' efforts and put their lives at risk, whether the fire is started by the transmission line or some other source.
As a result of all of the above, any fire in the North Palo Duro Canyon will likely burn unchecked, killing the wildlife, destroying the habitat and threatening neighboring developments, including The Canyons, River Falls and Lake Tanglewood, as well as the Palo Duro Canyon State Park.
Such a foreseeable and unreasonable threat to the canyon, the wildlife, the homes, and the lives of the firefighters, landowners and nearby residents, can and must be avoided.
