Posted on 01/05/2006 5:02:46 PM PST by AlaninSA
A fast moving brush fire scorched nearly 100 acres of rugged canyon land in north east Bexar County, not far from the location where the PGA Village resort will be built.
County officials asked people living on Fossil Peak Road in the Fossil Ridge Subdivision north of Evens Road to evacuate.
The fire broke out around 1pm and by 3:30pm had burned at least 100 acres of land.
At least seventeen fire departments battled the fire, aided by two Black Hawk helicopters from the Texas National Guard, which was recently mobilized by Governor Perry to help fight brush fires around the state. The fire crews and helicopters dumped huge amounts of water on the fire. Fire Chief Randy Jenkins tells WOAI that the fire has been contained and is mostly extinguished.
1200 WOAI's Steve Soliz says a major problem firefighters faced was finding a way to get into the rugged area where the fire burned. "There are some industrial properties nearby but no nearby subdivisions," Jenkins said. "But with 15 to 20 mile an hour winds, any nearby subdivision is a concern."
Jenkins said it's too soon to tell how the fire started.
"It is very difficult for firefightes to get to the area," Jenkins said. "We're looking at very rough terrain, so we're looking at a lot of time and effort putting out a fire like this."
The fire was near the Century Oaks, Fox Grove, Indian Springs and Smithson Valley subdivisions. Fire officials told WOAI that the fires posed no immediate threat to homes in the area.
The windy, dry weather conditions only help spread these brush fires.
Lots of quality livestock farmers and breeders around there, hope they are all okay and can evacuate somewhere to safety!
I'm watching breaking news on WOAI TV. says that Fossil Ridge is now open to residents to come back.
There have been no injuries.
Actually most of this part of Bexar county is subdivisions. It's essentially suburban San Antonio (even if we're within city limits).
Are you in SA?
Just had a fire break out in Killeen/Harker Heights late this afternoon. Strong winds today here at Ft. Hood and all the ranges are shut down until 15 January (probably longer).
I saw this thing from my place of business at US 281 & 1863 in Bulverde... pretty crazy...
- plewis1250
1604 & 35N (Live Oak)
Funny how many of us are so close to each other. I live at Bulverde and 1604.
I filled up at the new Shell station at O'Connor and 1604 this afternoon. I had no idea this was going down.
They had WOAI radio (1200 AM) on the overhead. The traffic woman came on and reported the fires...but I did not catch the location. Then I smelled smoke (don't know why I hadn't noticed it yet). Almost immediately after that I saw one of the Blackhawks...
Anyone have the "It's a small world" song stuck in your heads??
The grass is SO dry right now... it was only a matter of time before this happened. The unfortunate part is, this was no lightning considering how pretty it was out today... so it must have been “human error”…
- plewis1250
On a different thought, any chance these fires are being set as acts of terrorism?
I doubt it...
A cow could fart and the grass would catch fire being as dry as it is...
You can literally grab a handful of grass and crumble it up into dust... in your hands... It is THAT dry...
- plewis1250
Just did, sweetie :)
THANK you!!! ;)
I don't remember it ever being that dry down there. Heck, I was there in 1985 when they had the famous snow storm that dumped 13 inches of snow. I even had a picture of the Alamo under snow. It was absolutely beautiful. It's gone now, a victim of a tyrannical ex-wife out to destroy any semblence of my past life in the military. Major bummer.........
Its pretty dry...
Was not here for the '85 snowfall... have heard about it for years though... (aka, "last time I saw snow was...")
Shame she did not want you to remember the Alamo...
- plewis1250
I just don't think she wanted me to remember anything about the past. It was her way of exacting revenge. I loved San Antonio too, had a great time there, wouldn't mind going back for a visit.
No, there's little chance it was a terrorist act. PLewis is right, it's incredibly dry here right now. I can't remember the last time it rained.
The most likely cause is a couple kids playing with left over New Year's Eve firecrackers, someone burning brush or a discarded adult nicotine product.
As for snow, we had some last Christmas, remember? It began to snow just as we were entering children's Mass on Christmas Eve.
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