Fires rage through much of Texas; more than 1 million acres burned

The Statesman ^ | 4/19/2011 | Staff

[txroadkill]

Several massive wildfires in North and West Texas continued to rage Tuesday, racing through parched fields and woods and adding to a sweeping acreage toll that has reached almost 1.2 million in less than two weeks.

A wildfire spanning four counties west of Fort Worth near Possum Kingdom Lake has consumed nearly 150,000 acres, destroyed 150 homes and a church, and forced hundreds to flee since it began Friday, Texas Forest Service spokesman Marq Webb said.

The fire, which nearly doubled in size in a day, is one of more than 20 active fires that the Forest Service is fighting statewide in an April that has been plagued by a fierce drought, high temperatures and gusting winds — conditions that have allowed wildfires to ignite and spread quickly in several parts of the state, including Austin.

Last fall had just enough rain to lead to a spurt in grass and shrubs, but a harsh winter and the driest March on record have "combined for an overabundance of tall, dead grass and shrubs that serve as kindling," said Holly Huffman, a spokeswoman for the Forest Service, which tackles fires when they are beyond local authorities' reach.

"We have the really strong winds of springtime and vegetation as dry as in late summer," she said. "It's unprecedented to have the worst aspects of both fire seasons at the same time."

About 70 percent of the state is in either extreme or exceptional drought, the two worst categories, according to the most recent map from the U.S. Drought Monitor.

[txroadkill]

As some of you may know from earlier post : http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2705594/posts my cousin Greg Simmons was the Firefighter killed last Friday fighting these fires. Please continue to keep his wife, Carrie Gayle (today is her birthday), and their two daughters in your prayers as they really need them.

For those interested,

Funeral Services will be Wednesday April 20, 2011 at Leon River Cowboy Church Olden, TX at 1:00 PM

Burial Services will be at Oaklawn Cemetery Gorman, TX

At Family request, in lieu of flowers make donations to either the Eastland Volunteer Fire Department or EISD Scholarship Program.

Eastland Volunteer Fire Department
414 South Seamen
Eastland, TX 76448

EISD Scholarship Program
P.O. Box 31
Eastland, TX 76448

Please also keep the rest of the Firefighters and those displaced by these fires in your prayers as well.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Fires out there, often kindled by lightning, are a natural phenomenon like weather. Sometimes, putting out brush fires too diligently can lead to accumulations of dead brush over the years that burst into horribly large wildfires later, taking trees with them that might have otherwise survived. However it sounds like this was less than a year’s worth of brush.

[trumandogz]

True, but the problem is that people build their homes to wooded or brushy areas and when the fires start, those people want the fires put out.

[okie01]

True, but the problem is that people build their homes to wooded or brushy areas and when the fires start, those people want the fires put out.

In the part of Texas that has been affected, there are almost no "woods" and even brush is in short supply. For the most part, it's rangeland.

What's burning is the grass...

[dragnet2]

Not to mention hundred of homes.

[Constitutionalist Conservative]

Prayers for your cousin’s family.

[smokingfrog]

Meanwhile, the FAA has grounded 3 of the aircraft helping to fight the wild fires.

http://www.reporternews.com/news/2011/apr/19/aerial-firefightingcompany-grounds-its-fleet-of/

[crosstimbers]

Prayers to all your family from DFW.

[trumandogz]

Had a fire in SW Austin on Sunday and Monday that took out 11 homes.

Lots of cedar, brush and oak.

[goodnesswins]

Oh, so sorry....prayers for his wife and daughters, and the whole family.

[okie01]

Lots of cedar, brush and oak.

Around Austin, yes.

Out in West Texas, no. and that's where the larger fires are.

[trumandogz]

“Out in West Texas, no. and that’s where the larger fires are.”

Not according to the 11 families just south of me who watched their homes burn down.

The best thing however, is that the local media is reporting that the fire was started by a “Homeless Campfire.”

If we only could provide all campfires with a home!

[octex]

Possum Kingdom is only about 100 miles West of me (I live 4 miles West of the DFW airport). Very rough terrain with lots of mesquite, prairie grass and cedars.

The Cliffs is a private golf course about 150 feet above the lake and I used to be a member there before they began building a lot of expensive homes around the course. Everyone there was evacuated many days ago and I believe the whole area burned. The fires are closer to the West side of Fort Worth, now.

I take issue with the article saying that it’s the “Forest Service” that is doing the fire fighting. It’s mostly volunteer FDs and paid small town FDs that have been out there in the very high winds. Help has been coming in from other States and from all over Texas to fight these deadly fires. Obama’s “Forest Service” hasn’t done squat, unless they just began to help.

[Hetty_Fauxvert]

Do you know if the fires are close to Weatherford? I have an elderly relative there. Meant to call him today but got busy. How is the air quality in FW and nearby? When we had a bunch of fires here in my area a couple of years ago, it sweemed like I could hardly breathe whenever I stepped outside. Thanks for any info!

[octex]

I last saw the TV report at 6 pm Tuesday. The fires were near Mineral Wells, which is only about 25 miles W of Weatherford.

I’m in Grapevine near the DFW airport and the sky has been hazy with smoke for days when the wind is blowing this way. I can also occasionally smell the smoke.

Texas has been in a long drought, so all of the brush and trees are tender dry. Fires have burned over 1.25 Million acres in the last week or so and destroyed many houses and businesses. ...Yet, the cable news might mention it for 30 seconds each hour; as compared to the extensive coverage they give to fires in CA that burn far less in acerage. (Just a little rant in my last comment)

[Hetty_Fauxvert]

Thank you!! My relative is actually west of Weatherford, so even closer to Mineral Wells. I’ll definitely call tomorrow.

[ViLaLuz]

Does he have the means to evacuate if that becomes necessary? Let me know if you need someone to go pick him up. I live in FW.

[Rumplemeyer]

save

[matginzac]

Such a tragedy...so sorry...and what has our bozo of a prez done to help? Nada...POS!

[Arrowhead1952]