Fires raging throughout Central Texas

Austin American Statesman ^ | Sep 04 2011 | Staff

[grey_whiskers]

UPDATE 7:30 P.M.: Mark Stanford, the fire chief for the Texas Forest Service , said subdivisions have been evacuated there but they have no estimate on what structures have been lost.

People are being told to evacuate to the First Baptist Church in Smithville and Bastrop Middle School, Stanford said.

In addition, State Highways 71 and 21 in Bastrop County have been closed, Stanford said.

Update, 6:48 p.m.: Wildfires have consumed more than 6,000 acres in Bastrop County, and firefighters are still working to get the blazes under control.

According to Bastrop Police Department Spokesman Michal Hubbard, hundreds of homes have been evacuated, including those at the Colony, west of the city of Bastrop, and Tahitian Village to the east. Several structures have been lost, he said

[Liberty Valance]

"The cool finally got here though!"

Here in Kerrville as well. Got news that a friend lost is house in Bastrop. Said he feels like a refugee but he's being processed ... got his papers, photos, guns, cars and hard drive. ~ God Bless Texans! ~

[DollyCali]

My thoughts, prayers, and DEEP concern are extended to all in harms way. I pray for the residents, first responders, wildlife, pets..

so much heartache and tragedy. Praying for RAIN..miraculous rain where there are not any fronts, clouds, logical solutions..

God can provide..

[Arrowhead1952]

It was very smokey at home when I took the dog out this AM. The wind has died down and there is a light breeze from the SW / WSW and the smoke from the Spicewood fire across Lake Travis.

[MEG33]

Happy the winds are down, AH..Maybe the fires can be more easily battled.
My gratitude to the firefighters and all who are helping those displaced.

[Arrowhead1952]

We could see the orange glow from the Bastrop fire on the way to work today. I can see smoke from it now since the sun is almost up.

[Texas Deb]

I’m so glad some cool weather has reached your area and others south of us! Isn’t it just a God send to experience relief from the 100+ temps we’ve had all spring and summer?! Also heard this morning that the winds were dying down some. Good to hear. I hope these conditions and added resources can begin to help the people whose lives have just been affected by this nightmare.

I heard from my friend this morning who lost her house in Bastrop. She said her community has really pulled together and everyone greets everyone with a hug. She said on top of the heartbreak of losing her home, it was so hard to see her friends and neighbors lose theirs too. But at least she and her husband can stay with their son, but he’s near Bastop too, so may be at risk too with 0 containment of this fire. On her Facebook page, she thanked all for their support and prayers and said they are working.

So I just continue to pray.

It is good to hear, though, that maybe weather conditions have improved and can ease some of the burden on the firefighters.

[Texas Deb]

So glad the winds are dying down - maybe that can help the firefighters and help slow down the progress of the fires.

[Responsibility2nd]

Way up in post 24, I gave an account of how we had to evacuate from Bastrop/Buescher State Park.

 

Any word (or link) on how those parks are faring? I heard yesterday the fire fighters were working hard to save the historic CCC buildings at Bastrop.

 

 

[Arrowhead1952]

Yes, there is only a light breeze today, which is a change from the strong north winds the past few days. I had limbs broken out of trees at my house this past weekend.

[Republic of Texas]

Will Obama grant Perry’s request to make Central Texas a Disaster Area? Did he on the last request? Nope. He is the first President to use disasters to punish political opponents.

[Arrowhead1952]

PLEASE do your utmost best to stay safe...AND to report in from time to time!!

I am trying to find more info from the local news now. The reports are just depressing and it will get worse before it gets better. No rain expected for the next 10 - 14 days. We do have elderly neighbors, but there are plenty of helpful people in our town. No fires are currently within 20 or so miles of my home.

[Arrowhead1952]

Any word (or link) on how those parks are faring?

I've been looking for info on the parks, but nothing so far.

[Responsibility2nd]

There’s this....

http://www.kutnews.org/post/bastrop-state-park-burns-historic-buildings-saved

Bastrop State Park Burns, Historic Buildings Saved

The massive wildfire tearing through Bastrop County has scorched two-thirds or more of the 6,000 acre Bastrop State Park. But Texas Parks and Wildlife Department officials say they have made substantial progress in an effort to save historic buildings in the park.

Many of Texas state parks were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, a Depression-era job creation program. As such, the cabins, a refectory, and other structures at Bastrop State Park are considered historic. Texas Parks and Wildlife has this on-line exhibit with more on the history of the 1930s effort to construct state parks.

Texas Parks and Wildlife used heavy equipment to dig fire lanes around the areas they are trying to protect. The Texas Department of Transportation brought in tanker trucks of water that were used to saturate the ground around the buildings. Crews also soaked the wooden shingles of the structures so that falling embers would not set them on fire.

And while you may mourn the loss of thousands of acres of pine trees in the park, officials say wildfires are actually part of the natural cycle of life for the protected habitat.

“As long as personal property and lives are not lost, the land actually benefits from these burns, as bizarre as that seems,” Texas Parks and Wildlife spokesman Mike Cox told KUT News. “Once it starts raining again, the pine trees will come back and the park probably will be more verdant than ever.”

[TEXOKIE]

Heavenly Father,
We appeal to you and your son, our Lord Jesus to calm the raging fires in Texas. Lord Jesus, you have command of the elements and we beseech you to intercede according to the Will of our Father in these fires. Heal the cause and core behind these fires!

Father, let there be the purification of our hearts so that we may more fully join our Lord in His work in Texas and throughout the world, especially in the areas in which we are ourselves standing.

Father, bless and heal the people who have been affected in an adverse way by these fires. Guide, guard, direct and protect the fire fighters and emergency personnel in their work.

We ask that this will be done for each and every situation where there is a similarity of need, and that it is all done only according to thy will.

Father, we are grateful for your ever-listening ear and watchful eye upon us. Lord Jesus, walk with us this day and help us to be mindful of your love and the love of our Father and His blessed Holy Spirit with us.

Amen

[Texas Deb]

Sorry, I don’t know.

If I hear any info from my friend there about what is going on, I will post it.

[Texas Deb]

And I remember your post. How scarey! Glad you safely got out when you did.

[TEXOKIE]

Map of fires.

http://ticc.tamu.edu/Response/FireActivity/default.aspx

Here is the thread containing that map:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2774258/posts

[Responsibility2nd]

Thanks. At first I was going to leave the RV on site and just go to Rec Center in Smithville as directed. I figured things would be under control in a few hours and we could return later.

 

My wife questioned my sanity. Do we really wanna spend a night in a DRY pine forest with wildfires less than 10 miles sway? So we hooked up and left. So glad I listened to my wife!

 

And I'm glad we had time to get the RV out. Those camping 10 miles away at Bastrop had to leave theirs.

 

And by the time we did leave, it was spooky driving away from the fires; the entire sky was smokey black and the sun was completely obscured. It was only 6:00pm yet we all had our headlights on.  It looked like storm clouds with an orange tint to them.

 

 

This is not my picture, of course, but I think this is Hwy 71.

 

 

And even though we were some 15 miles away from the fires, the smoke by this time had intensified everywhere.

[MEG33]

They showed a long shot of the Austin skyline on Fox..Smoke clouds rose high in the background..Lord have mercy.

[MEG33]

Amen