Texas Business reports: Firefighters are expected to remain busy the next few days as dry lightning is forecast in the Panhandle. Since Monday, approximately two-thirds of the fires across the state have been started by lightning strikes. 

Dry lightning is a term which is used to refer to lightning strikes occurring without rain. The term is a technical misnomer since lightning is not wetand because the thunderstorms which sometimes cause it actually do produce precipitation, although the precipitation does not reach the ground.

The Texas Forest Services is battling five large fires that have burned 5,544 acres. That includes one new large fire that started Wednesday in Coke County.

239 of the 254 Texas counties are reporting burn bans.

New large fires from yesterday (more than 100 acres in timber, 300 acres in lighter fuels):

MALONE, Coke County. 1,450 acres, 50 percent contained. The fire is burning 10 miles north of Robert Lee. Four single-engine airtankers, two heavy airtankers, a helitanker, and numerous ground resources responded to the fire yesterday.

Uncontained fires from previous days (more than 100 acres in timber, 300 acres in lighter fuels):

337 FIRE, Palo Pinto County. 932 acres, 75 percent contained. The fire is burning in rough terrain 5 miles northwest of Mineral Wells. Twenty homes were threatened, none were lost. Helicopters and ground resources continue to work the fire.

BRITE RANCH, Presidio County. 1,050 acres, 65 percent contained. The fire is burning in grass and brush in a remote area 30 miles west of Marfa. Four single-engine airtankers and numerous ground resources continued to work the fire yesterday.

BURNETT, Knox County. 1,300 acres, 40 percent contained. Four single-engine airtankers assisted in saving five homes on this fire 12 miles northeast of Benjamin.

WARD RANCH, Sutton County. 812 acres, 75 percent contained. One residence was saved on this fire burning in grass and brush 20 miles south of Sonora.

Weather Outlook:

A cold front will stall just north of the North Branch in southern Oklahoma. Sinking air ahead of this front will bring hotter conditions to the region on Thursday. Temperatures will range from 102 to 105 degrees, with temperatures approaching 110 just to the northwest. Warmer temperatures will bring lower relative humidity values for the region, falling to 18 to 25 percent, with the lowest readings in the northern and western portions of the branch around Stephenville and Mineral Wells. Winds will remain 10 mph or less from the south and southeast. An isolated shower or thunderstorm may drift into the region from the north along the front during the late afternoon. Conditions are favorable that some of these storms may produce only dry lightning during the afternoon. More thunderstorms are expected across the far southeastern portion of the branch.

 239 of the 254 Texas counties are reporting burn bans.