COLLEGE STATION, Texas- The Texas Forest Service (TFS) is urging citizens in South Texas to be aware of heightened wildfire danger due to high winds and low relative humidity levels.

The National Weather Service has put South Texas under a red flag warning from midnight on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009, until 4 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009.

The area includes the cities of Austin, Fredericksburg, Uvalde, San Antonio, Eagle Pass, Laredo, McAllen, Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Victoria and La Grange.

"These critical conditions could lead to wildfires that spread very rapidly and are extremely difficult to contain," said Brad Smith, a fire behavior analysis for TFS. "The potential for damage to improved property, such as homes, becomes much higher."

These wildfires can quickly endanger public safety.

TFS Predictive Services Department forecasts that through the month of February fuels, such as grasses and trees, are expected to remain critically dry.

Over the past seven days, TFS has responded to 59 wildfires on 4,706 acres. According to an online database managed by TFS, fire departments have reported 218 wildfires on 3,547acres since last Tuesday.

For more information on fire advisories and area conditions, go to http:// texasforestservic e.ta mu.edu and click on Fire Danger/Advisories.