SMITH COUNTY (KYTX) - 2011 marked the worst drought in state history, millions of acres burned and hundreds of people lost their homes.
In Smith County we saw the affects, but what does that mean for 2012?
"She was blowing her horn, 'mama, get out, get out, get out.' Daddy come to the door we didn't know what was going on," says Effie Mumphrey on how her daughter saved her life.
Mumphrey and her husband got out of their house just in time on labor day as flames raged just behind them.
"Grabbed my purse, my medicine and when I walked to the door and looked out, I couldn't see nothing but smoke. I couldn't see no where," says Mumphrey.
That fire burned hundreds of acres and claimed everything the Mumphrey's owned, leaving only the tractor.
Dozens of other East Texans felt the same heat as the drought raged on throughout the summer months.
"We were running almost around the clock," says Smith County Assistant Fire Marshal Oren Hale.
Hale says resources were depleted as firefighters worked around the clock putting out flames.
Nearly every county in Texas enacted burn bans, while police started looking for an arson suspect in East Texas.
"We weren't able to catch the perpetrator, but they felt the heat from law enforcement, so backed off and went somewhere else," says Hale.
Thousands of acres across Smith County were scorched by wildfires.
While burn bans were lifted, there's still plenty of dry vegetation that could cause problems next year.
"Our state is still in a drought condition and will be for several years. Take several years to totally recover," says Hale.
Which could mean more burn bans, more dry, dead vegetation.
"I thank god I'm living, both living, to get out of that house. We could've both got burned up," says Mumphrey.
And even the possibility of more fires.
"Hope that don't ever happen no more," says Mumphrey.
Forecasters say La Nina could elevate the odds for drought persistence.
But also point out frequent precipitation and seasonably cooler temperatures since November have improved conditions.
