As Central Texas prepares for potential wildfires, a coalition of firefighters, environmental nonprofits and local governments is identifying the best spots to deploy defensive measures.

Why it matters: Where brush and vegetation are cleared could be crucial to stopping the spread of future conflagrations.

Driving the news: As the Austin-Travis County Wildfire Coalition updates its Community Wildfire Protection Plan, it will host a final round of public meetings this week.

• The plan, updated every 10 years, identifies areas of wildfire risk, helps prioritize investments for mitigation funding, and provides homeowner risk-reduction practices.

State of play: Travis and surrounding counties currently have a burn ban in place.

Yes, but: "The fire environment has improved across most of the state" with recent rainfall, per the latest weekly Texas Fire Potential Update from the Texas A&M Forest Service.

What they're saying: "As the city continues to grow on its outskirts, you have homes backing up on greenbelts and hills, putting them at risk of wildfire," David Wiechmann, a spokesperson for Austin Emergency Management, which is helping organize the meetings, tells Axios.

• Wiechmann adds that properties in the eastern part of the county are vulnerable to the sort of devastating prairie fires that scorched Bastrop County in 2011.
• "A wetter spring can create a false sense of security, but we're still in severe drought conditions in Travis County, and that means wildfire risk hasn't gone away," Lake Travis Fire Rescue spokesperson Rachel Neutzler tells Axios.
• In fact, new vegetation can dry out quickly and become fuel, she adds.

The intrigue: A 2023 report found that nearly 88% of properties in greater Austin could face higher insurance premiums or policy nonrenewals due to the risk of wildfires, high winds and other extreme weather events.

If you go: The coalition will host a meeting at the Del Valle Early College High School cafeteria tonight from 6-8pm and again tomorrow at St. Luke's on the Lake Episcopal Church from 6-8pm.

• An online survey is also available.

There are several essential items you should grab if you must leave your home when a wildfire, flooding or other natural disaster strikes.

Why it matters: Being prepared with an accessible go-bag can reduce panic and could be the difference between life and death.

Zoom in: A go-bag should be easy to find and carry. Consider a backpack for personal items and documents, and a wheeled tub or suitcase for food and water.

• Food and water: A three-day supply of non-perishable food and three gallons of water per person, plus utensils and a can opener.
• Medical supplies: A first-aid kit, prescriptions, medications, medical devices, extra glasses and contacts, feminine hygiene products.
• Technology: A cell phone charger, battery pack, flashlight, batteries, battery-powered radio, laptop, storage devices with key personal data.
• Important documents (or copies): ID, passports, birth certificates, Social Security cards, marriage license, insurance policies.
• Pet items: Food, collar/leash, carrier, toys and vaccine information.
• Money: Credit and debit cards, cash.
• Miscellaneous: A whistle to call for help, blanket or sleeping bag, change of clothes, shoes, baby photos and extra car keys.

Other things to consider: People with larger animals should either have equipment to move them or the phone number of someone who can help.

Between the lines: Liz Gelardi with Verizon Wireless said their crisis team has a digital checklist that includes taking videos and photos for insurance purposes.

• Residents should also download evacuation routes and maps ahead of time.

Share this

⛽ Texas ranks fifth in the U.S. for the biggest surge in gas prices since 2025, with a nearly 61% increase. (CultureMap Austin)

🏭 Intel is joining Elon Musk's planned $20 billion "Terafab" manufacturing project. (Austin Business Journal 🔒)

🌶️ The property currently home to a Chili's at 45th and Lamar is for sale. (KVUE)

Austin's office market is seeing one of the sharper pullbacks in the country as hybrid work sticks.

Why it matters: Even fast-growing cities aren't immune to shrinking office demand.

By the numbers: National vacancy hit 21% in Q1, a record high, per data Moody's shared exclusively with Axios.

Stunning stat: Occupied office space in Austin dropped by 870,000 square feet in the first quarter — among the worst nationally.

• Austin's office vacancy rate was nearing 25% at the end of 2025.

The big picture: Even after an aggressive return-to-office push by employers, workers nationally spend about a quarter of their working days away from its confines — compared with 7% in January 2020.

What's next: More offices will likely shift toward amenity-heavy designs to stay competitive.

• "More than ever, the office is no longer viewed solely as a place to work, but as a tool to attract and retain young talent, reinforce company branding, and elevate the in‐person experience," write the authors of a report from Moody's commercial real estate team.

We recently met up for breakfast at Lynny's with our boss — and our boss' boss — for some very tasty comfort food.

Why it matters: When you're meeting with the higher-ups — and this was just a check-in because our boss' boss happened to be visiting Austin for a conference — you want everyone to be very happy.

• That's the case at Lynny's, an unpretentious diner by East 12th and Chicon streets, on the same block as a hair salon, sushi restaurant, King Bee bar and the Little Gay Shop — a corner that serves as a microcosm for East Austin's changes the last quarter-century.

The backstory: The diner is owned by business-and-life partners Lynn Metcalf and Erin Gentry.

What we ordered: Stuff with biscuits — fruit compote, ham, eggs and sausage.

• Everything was executed very nicely, anchored smartly by those dense-but-not-too-dense biscuits.

Six-word review: So yummy the boss is happy.