Posted on 09/05/2011 11:27:31 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
Wildfire Update – Sept. 5, 2011
Current situation:
· Texas Forest Service responded yesterday to 63 new fires that burned 32,936 acres, including 22 new large fires.
· Strong winds and low relative humidity from Tropical Storm Lee caused numerous wildfires to spread rapidly yesterday. Additional National Guard Blackhawk helicopters and Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS) strike teams, as well as a heavy airtanker from South Dakota were mobilized Sunday to assist with the large number of fires. Weather conditions are expected to reach critical levels again today.
· Texas Forest Service has dozens of aircraft ready to respond this morning, including four heavy airtankers, 15 single-engine airtankers, 12 helicopters, and 13 aerial supervision aircraft. A Type 1 incident management team has been requested to assist with the Bastrop County Complex.
· 251 of the 254 Texas counties are reporting burn bans.
· Daily detailed fire information can be found at inciweb.org.
New large fires from yesterday (more than 100 acres in timber, 300 acres in lighter fuels; or where homes were lost):
* Note: Details on many fires are still unconfirmed. Below is the latest information provided.
BASTROP COUNTY COMPLEX, Bastrop County. 14,000 acres, no containment. Heavy airtankers and single-engine airtankers assisted on this fire that started in the Lost Pines area just northeast of Bastrop. The fire has moved unchecked for at least 16 miles to the south and has jumped the Colorado River twice. The Circle D, K.C. Estates, Pine Forest, Colovista and Tahitian Village subdivision have been evacuated. Firefighters are trying to hold the fire at FM 2571. Reports indicate possibly 300 homes have been destroyed. MODIS satellite image indicates the fire has jumped Highway 95 and is approximately 25,000 acres.
STEINER RANCH, Travis County. 150 acres, no containment. The fire started just north of the Steiner Ranch subdivision. More than 1,000 homes are under mandatory evacuation in Steiner Ranch. At least 25 homes are reported lost. A Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System strike team responded.
PEDERNALES BEND, Travis County. 7,000 acres, unknown containment. The fire is burning four miles southeast of Spicewood. Twenty homes were lost, 30 homes damaged.
HENDERSON #495, Henderson County. 5,000 acres, unknown containment. Three homes were saved.
#491, Limestone County. 3,000 acres, unknown containment. Six homes were saved and one was lost on this fire 20 miles east of Waco.
DELHI, Caldwell County. 1,000 acres, 10 percent contained. Twenty homes were saved and six were lost on this fire east of Lockhart.
BAILEY, Colorado County. 1,000 acres, unknown containment. This fast-moving fire threatened 40 homes near Columbus. Blackhawks, single-engine airtankers and a heavy airtanker assisted.
MOORE, Smith County. 927 acres, 5 percent contained. Ten homes were evacuated and five were lost on this fire burning on the Smith/Gregg County line. Two civilian fatalities were reported.
#545, Upshur County. 500 acres, 50 percent contained. One hundred homes were saved; none lost. The fire is burning East of Gilmer.
LUTHERHILL, Fayette County. 2,000 acres, unknown containment. The community of Ruttersville was evacuated. Seven homes are reported lost.
BONBIEW RANCH, Van Zandt County. 350 acres, unknown containment. Twenty homes were saved southeast of Canton.
CLEMANIS, Upshur County. 400 acres, 85 percent contained. Twenty homes were saved.
#543, Gregg County. 300 acres, unknown containment. Numerous homes were saved, none lost.
#538, Harrison County. 200 acres, contained. One hundred fifty homes were evacuated in a trailer park east of Longview.
#502, Nacogdoches County. 200 acres, unknown containment. More than a dozen homes have been evacuated, but none lost.
#841, Houston County. 200 acres, unknown containment. Fifteen homes were threatened east of Crockett.
PLEASANT GREEN ROAD, Gregg County. 150 acres, contained. Numerous homes evacuated and saved south of Longview.
KENNEDY ROAD, Rusk County. 150 acres, unknown containment. Numerous homes threatened, one lost.
HODDE, Travis County. 325 acres, contained. Two hundred homes were evacuated and saved east of Pflugerville. No homes reported lost.
PETTYTOWN, Caldwell County. 200 acres, 90 percent contained. Twenty homes were saved east of Lockhart.
OLD MAGNOLIA, Gregg County. 100 acres, unknown containment. No homes threatened. Two fuel tanks exploded.
SOUTH SULPHER, Hunt County. 100 acres, 70 percent contained. Five homes were threatened and two were destroyed.
#839, Leon County (Concord Robbins). 100 acres, unknown containment. At least 15 homes are reported lost and more than 300 were evacuated.
Uncontained fires from previous days (more than 100 acres in timber, 300 acres in lighter fuels):
*Note: No current updates available except on the 101 Ranch Fire.
101 RANCH, Palo Pinto County. 6,555 acres, 75 percent contained. The fire is burning on the south side of Possum Kingdom Lake near the town of Brad. Thirty-nine homes and nine RVs have been reported destroyed.
CRAB PRAIRIE, Walker County. 977 acres, 90 percent contained. Numerous SEATs and helicopters, as well as National Guard bulldozers assisted. Two homes were reported to be lost.
HORNETS TANK, Briscoe County. 5,500 acres, 90 percent contained. The fire is burning in juniper and grass in rough terrain near Palo Duro Canyon.
CEDAR RIDGE, Bosque County. 903 acres, 75 percent contained.
3547 ROAD, Wise County. 400 acres, 80 percent contained. Approximately 60 homes were evacuated near this fast-moving fire. Five homes were lost.
JOHNSON (JACKSON) RANCH, Edwards County. 600 acres, 95 percent contained. Three homes were lost on this fire burning 27 miles northwest of Hunt.
BIG DRAW, Kimble County. 600 acres, 20 percent contained. Active fire behavior in heavy fuels and steep terrain was observed. Twenty homes are threatened.
RICK RANCH, Sutton County. 395 acres, 95 percent contained. The fire is burning 24 miles west of Junction.
JACK MOUNTAIN, Coryell County. 1,700 acres, 60 percent contained. The fire is burning five miles south of Gatesville on the Ft. Hood military reservation.
BUNDY ROSS RANCH, Edwards County. 600 acres, 75 percent contained. The fire is burning in juniper, grass and brush 7 miles southeast of Telegraph.
DOUBLE T, Menard County. 300 acres, 95 percent contained. The fire is burning 19 miles west of Brady.
PICKET RUN, Montague County. 1,100 acres, 90 percent contained. The fire is burning in tall grass 7 miles south of Bowie.
CEDAR TRUCK COMPLEX, Kimble County. 357 acres, 80 percent contained. Thirteen homes were saved on this fire burning just west of Fort McKavett. This was a combination of 34 different starts along a 24-mile stretch of highway.
COSTER, Hall County. 1,000 acres, 80 percent contained. Four homes were saved on this fire burning 26 miles northwest of Childress.
HORSESHOE BEND, Coryell County. 525 acres, 75 percent contained. The fire is burning 10 miles south of McGregor. National Guard Blackhawks assisted on the fire. Twelve homes were saved.
Weather Outlook:
A ridge of dry high pressure across the mid U.S. and the Texas panhandle will drift into west Central Texas during the day. This will continue the stronger winds over the east half or more of the state along with drier relative humidities into the 10 to 20 percent range across much of the state. High temperatures will be in the upper 70s to lower 80s over a large portion of North Texas to near 100 over Deep South Texas near the Mexico border. The stronger winds are expected to weaken over most of the state Monday night.
Forest Service updated for Sept 6 at source — I’ll put link here too.
http://tfsweb.tamu.edu/main/article.aspx?id=12888
FOX news in Austin reported that the Spicewood / Pedernales fire is 80% contained now.
Good!
“It appears that in the past 48 hours, more than 700 homes have been destroyed. As better assessments come in, we will continue to update the situation report.”
From updated link in Post # 41
I also got an email from a dear friend who lives across the street from where the Spicewood fire started. She says it was and still is very scary.
Good to hear.
Sorry to hear that from your friend, but good to hear it may be 80% contained.
She said the fire department did not have any clue as to what started the fire. It’s not a place that has a lot of traffic, and there are several feet between the road and sidewalk, so it is doubtful it was a cigarette butt tossed out the window.
The news at the bottom of the hour just reported two more wildfires in the north Austin area. Both are in greenbelts - which are nothing but fry hay now. That seems strange, since those areas have little foot traffic.
fry hay = DRY hay
Yeah the one off of Parmer at then end of Mustang chase seems strange...
I was trying to figure out what started that one... Maybe a vehicle in the green belt driving or a tractor shredding hit a rock and spark and...
It just seems strange.
So do they think some of these fires are being intentionally set?
I heard something last night about one fire they thought might have been intentionally set but I can’t remember exactly where it was. The picture they showed I seem to remember might have been northeast to east of Austin.
That just is unfathonable that someone might do that at this time, but they were really talking last night like this fire might have been intentional.
Unbelievable if true - what sickos!
Officials in Navarro County think some of the fires in that county may have been deliberately set. No evidence has been found to back up those suppositions at this time. FYI: Navarro County is southeast of DFW. If you know where Collin Street Bakery is in Corsicana, you know where Navarro County is located.
I have a suspicion the small fire in Cedar Park (2 homes and 3 acres) was caused by a cigarette butt.
I heard welding might have caused the Leander fire Monday.
I heard a blow out trailer tire might have caused fires in other areas.
There was a news report about 5 or 6 fires around Dripping Springs a couple of weeks ago where this same truck was seen near where each fire started.
Pretty much ever possibility out there.
Any info on the area around Horseshoe Bay?
True.
With the horrible drought conditions we’ve had providing the fuel, it doesn’t take much to start an inferno.
BASIL! CHECK IN PLEASE!
Texas fires (((ping)))
Good to hear that there is no evidence of intentional settings. Hope there haven’t been any.
Friends that are evacuated from Bastrop are hearing their fire was intentionally started.
Prayers! My SO’s relatives live in TX.
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