HARKER HEIGHTS, Texas — The Harker Heights Fire Department along with Texas A&M Forest Service and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began construction on a firebreak line Tuesday.
Officials with the fire department said the firebreak line will reduce the risk of wildfires near Stillhouse Hollow Lake.
The project is expected to continue to the end of February.
To build firebreak lines, crews use bulldozers to remove vegetation down to bare mineral soil. This helps reduce wildfires' intensity and rate of spread. It can also increase firefighter access to the area.
After crews finished bulldozing the three-mile firebreak line, they started using mulchers to break up the downed vegetation.
Fire officials said the line runs from FM 3481 near Cedar Gap Park to the east end of Fuller Ln.
While the firebreak line will reduce the risk of widespread wildfires, officials said it does not eliminate those risks. They also said homeowners should prioritize fire-resistant home construction and resources to learn about that process are available online.
