Posted on 09/06/2011 7:08:37 AM PDT by pwatson
http://ticc.tamu.edu/Response/FireActivity/default.aspx map of all the active wildfires in Texas
Great map. Thanks.
Pray for rain bump!
I woke up smelling smoke and I just knew our place was on fire. Looking at the map, I see that I am surrounded.
Don’t trust the map.
For example, it shows the fire East of Crockett, TX to be well North of US 287. My guy on the ground just reported the fire crossed US287 last night in MULTIPLE PLACES. The fire has spread at least 10 miles from where the map shows it.
The Forest Service is trying to put out the hot spots while they have daylight and light winds.
Because of the “roadless initiative” of the US Forest Service (thank you, Greens), there are almost no access roads into the National Forest South of 287. Every trail has multiple trees down across it which the Greenies will not allow the Forest Service to clear.
That whole area of National Forest was in dire need of controlled burns last Winter when they had rain and cool temps.
Instead of harvesting timber and allowing grazing by ranchers, we get total devastation.
We need to remember why such fires cause so much damage when they occur and hold the Greens responsible.
The one in Leon County was heading towards my mother’s place. She had her truck packed and ready for the evacuation call, but the winds died down enough in the evening the evacuation was not called. Praying the winds don’t pick up like they did yesterday.
This particular fire started when a tree fell on an electrical line and sparks from the line caught the very dry trees and brush on fire. As of last night 1 church and 16 houses had burned as well as about 10 other structures.
This is one of the “little” fires across Texas right now.
Prayers for the people who have lost their homes and prayers for the rain that is desperately needed.
Stay safe - smoke is very dangerous. I’m praying for your great state. 1,000 homes have now been destroyed by these fires in Texas - in just the past 48 hours!
If you are a Firefighter or have trailers and a place to store livestock and or horses and would like to help
Call 512-978-1187
TT
This morning all around East Texas is smoke. Winds are down, a good thing. Weather folks say we are in a 500 foot level inversion layer holding the darn smoke at ground level.
So far no new fires, although several sizable ongoing ones thankfully nothing like Bastrop.
Guess lots of Texas is going to look different when we ever get beyond this damn La Nina curse.
Are you guys going to be safe? Has Mr. Legs been called up to help fight the fires?
In the Austin tv viewing area of Central Texas, over 45,000 acres have burned and over 700 homes have been lost. Every little thing is sparking fires in this tinderbox. Schools across several counties have cancelled classes today.
Don’t know what area of Texas your in, but there was no government restraint on “harvesting timber and allowing grazing by ranchers”. 1 - because most of Texas is private owned, 2 - except for East Texas, the other areas aren’t much for “timber”, 3 - ranchers have never been restricted from grazing their own land and 4 - because of the very slow housing market, not much timber logging going on.
Haven’t seen Texas Forest Service doing any Control Burns in years, maybe because of Greenies, but I know a lot forest landowners don’t like them coming on their places.
These fire maps are pretty up to date around Tyler, maybe they have been busy putting out fires and less time updating maps, ya think?
Stay safe my good friends in Whitehouse. And all others also. Prayers up.
Texas has been a tinderbox for months, yet it seems these fires are growing exponentially just recently. Is my observation correct, or is it that the media has just started reporting on it more? If it’s the former, then what’s causing the marked increase in the number of fires recently.....i.e. are they being started on purpose or carelessly (like lit cigarette butts thrown out windows)?
The winds Sunday were fierce...knocking lines and transformers around..causing some of the fires..one fire near Magnolia was started by a BarBQue..Of course we just get drier and drier. Praying for rain...Worst drought in over 50 years...and the hottest summer.
Yesterday, smoke from four fires was visible, and my granddaughters were able to see the smoke from the fires in Cass County from I-30 in Hope, AR!! They actually drove by the fire on FM251, just as it was getting started, and phoned it in. It apparently started on the road ROW (cigarette?)
One of yesterday's fires covered 7,000 acres -- and threatened a historic church for which I am working on a Texas Historical Marker... AFAIK, no Cass County homes were lost yesterday. But it was a wild day here in the Piney Woods!
Yeah, the winds were high all day yesterday here too as that cold front pushed through. Winds like that will take the least little spark and make into a raging inferno in no time. We’re praying for TX and OK rains too for you guys. What we saw while driving through both states in July was enough to oppress anyone.
Thank you for your prayers.
*Note: Details on many fires are still unconfirmed. The Dispatch Tracker System was down most of yesterday and went down again this morning. Most of the details below are from late last night.
RILEY ROAD, Grimes County. 3,000 acres, unknown containment. The fire is exhibiting extreme fire behavior as it burns rapidly west of Magnolia. At least 20 homes have been destroyed, with 150 immediately threatened and hundred more in its path. The fire is actively moving to the south.
TAMINA ROAD, Montgomery County. 150 acres, unknown containment. Two hundred homes have been evacuated in and near the Woodlands and an additional 400 are within a one-fourth of a mile of the fire.
UNION CHAPEL, Bastrop County. 750 acres, 10 percent contained. Twenty-five homes were destroyed on this fire just west of Bastrop. Aircraft responded immediately after the fire was reported, but were ineffective in the windy conditions.
MOONGLOW, Williamson County. 300 acres, no containment. This fire is burning in Leander where 150 homes were threatened. Thirteen homes are reported lost.
PETERS CHAPEL, Harrison County. 600 acres, unknown containment. The fire is burning actively in pine plantation. Numerous homes have been evacuated. There are no reports of losses.
#552, Upshur County. 200 acres, unknown containment. The fire is burning in timber. Three homes were lost and dozens remain threatened.
#854, Walker County. 200 acres, unknown containment. Thirty homes have been evacuated, five homes were destroyed.
#507, Anderson County. 1,200 acres, unknown containment.
#505 Rusk County. 400 acres, unknown containment.
#504, Anderson County. 800 acres, unknown containment.
Uncontained fires from previous days (more than 100 acres in timber, 300 acres in lighter fuels):
BASTROP COUNTY COMPLEX, Bastrop County. 30,000 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 continues to move rapidly to the south, with some eastward movement. Numerous subdivisions have been evacuated. Reports indicate nearly 600 homes have been destroyed.
PEDERNALES BEND, Travis County. 6,500 acres, 40 percent contained. The fire is burning 4 miles southeast of Spicewood. Sixty-seven homes were destroyed. The fire has jumped the Pedernales River and is burning actively towards the south.
BEAR CREEK (#536), Cass County. 7,000 acres, no containment. The fire is burning in heavy timber and is threatened a gas facility and chicken houses.
STEINER RANCH, Travis County. 125 acres, 40 percent contained. The fire started just north of the Steiner Ranch subdivision. More than 1,000 homes were evacuated. Thirty-five homes were destroyed. A Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System strike team responded.
HENDERSON #495, Anderson County. 3,700 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. 8,000 acres, 40 percent contained. Twenty homes were saved and six were lost on this fire east of Lockhart.
BAILEY, Colorado County. 1,500 acres, 50 percent contained. This fast-moving fire threatened 40 homes near Columbus.
MOORE, Smith County. 1,300 acres, 90 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.
DIANA (#545), Upshur County. 750 acres, unknown containment. The fire is burning in grass and timber. Twenty homes are threatened.
LUTHERHILL, Fayette County. 2,000 acres, 50 percent contained. The community of Ruttersville was evacuated. Seven homes are reported lost.
BONBIEW RANCH, Van Zandt County. 350 acres, 80 percent contained. Twenty homes were saved southeast of Canton.
CLEMANIS, Upshur County. 500 acres, 90 percent contained. Twenty homes were saved on this timber fire.
#543, Gregg County. 300 acres, unknown containment. The fire is burning in pine and hardwood. Numerous homes were saved, none lost. The fire is burning in hardwood and pine.
#538, Harrison County. 200 acres, contained. One hundred fifty homes were evacuated in a trailer park east of Longview.
#502, Nacogdoches County. 2,900 acres, unknown containment. More than a dozen homes have been evacuated, but none lost.
ARBOR, Houston County. 150 acres, unknown containment. The fire is burning in timber. Up to 15 homes reported lost.
KENNEDY ROAD, Rusk County. 150 acres, unknown containment. Numerous homes threatened, one lost.
PETTYTOWN, Caldwell County. 200 acres, 90 percent contained. Twenty homes were saved east of Lockhart.
OLD MAGNOLIA, Gregg County. 500 acres, unknown containment. Several structures and a gas plant are 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). 600 acres, unknown containment. At least 15 homes are reported lost and more than 300 were evacuated.
101 RANCH, Palo Pinto County. 6,555 acres, 85 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.
Thats a lot of fires... its like someone is setting them..
We had a fire in Stone Oak park and Selma last night, right near the in-law’s house. It’s out now, though. Mr. Legs hasn’t been called yet, but I’m wondering if that won’t happen in a couple days...
When I discussed restrictions on grazing and logging I was, of course, referring to the Davey Crockett National Forest East of Crockett, not private land.
I was not criticizing the Texas Forest Service. I was criticizing federal restrictions on the use of national forests.
We saw the same result in the recent Arizona wildfires. The Green groups who fought to remove the ranchers stock from the forests were nowhere to be found when the forest burned.
I hope I communicate clearly. The environazis sue and push policies that result in people getting killed and homes destroyed.
That is the point I was trying to make.
Yikes! Canton is a little too close for comfort!
For what it’s worth...
They even have wikipedia articles on the fires now.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Texas_wildfires
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bastrop_County_Complex_fire
Thanks for the link...
Prayers for Texas and all who are affected by the wildfires. We in CA understand.
I think it is drought plus the La Nina condition.
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