Not my picture, but pretty much the view from my home in west Austin.
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.
Uncotrolled Central Texas Wildfires Pushed by Tropical Storm Wind
Fires Destroy Homes in Bastrop, Magnolia
I’m an Okie, but Texans are my first brothers. My prayers are with them.
We've had fires on and off all summer but weren't battling winds. These winds have amplified a very dangerous situation.
Bump!
Happy to say I helped "stimulate" the OKC and Norman economy by bringing my family there for vacation this year.
God bless!
Temps look “better” but no rain in the forecast.
Peace
Peace.
First time I’ve ever heard of TX coming to OK. But I’m not the most informed. lol. Your always welcome.
Now I got you just where I want you. Didn’t you read Sun OK?
We went to the 45th Infantry Fighter Museum, the Science Museum, Celebration Station, the Sam Noble Museum, the Zoo, and the Oklahoma City Memorial. Had an amazing time.
The folks who put together the Oklahoma City Memorial did it right. Heartbreaking, gut-wrenching, patriotic, very spiritual. My little guy didn't understand, but my older two (who know all about 9-11 and what happened to our country) learned about OKC.
They were running around outside until my son mentioned "the little chairs." I explained that they represented all the children who died, too. My older two were stunned that kids had died, as well. As we finished walking the pavillion, my daughter grabbed my hand, we both had tears in our eyes, and she said, "Mom, there were lots of little chairs."
I'll never forget it.
You and your’s are my pride.
Not my picture, but pretty much the view from my home in west Austin.
Been praying for rain for Texas for long time now. I heard today that some of threse fires are arson. Have you heard anything? And if true, whoever did this should be hung.
G-d Bless Texas.
Here's one from the news.
Rain!
Magnolia fire not even mentioned. The fires in Bastrop County have been terrible but most of the state has fires.
Assets are limited. Firefighters here have done unbelievable things with just tankers and brush trucks and limited numbers of dozers.
I’ve been at the roadblocks most of the evening. In one very disappointing event Montgomery County Sheriff deputy behaved very badly. An old couple had left their home 1/4 mile down the road from the road block to get fuel and food in expectation of a forced evacuation. It was a brother and sister in their late 80’s. She had left her 95 year old husband at home, the area had not been issued an evacuation order. They had no way to communicate with the old gentleman. Anyway, the cops would not let them in to be with the 95 year old, no evacuation order had been issued they simply were not letting anybody back in. The old couple had been waiting for 3 hours. I went over to ask if the cops could help them in some way.... NO! I appealed, NO! I said this was not right, they needed help and this was just not right. I was told to leave for my own good. I asked if the deputy could call and make exception... NO, “I don’t know where to reach my Lieutenant. You need to leave sir and let me alone.” Yeah, right so you can go back to picking your nose or scratching your butt or pulling your damn tool belt up over your gut.
I hate cops. The wold has gone crazy and I don’t want to live in it anymore when the cops won’t even go over to talk to a couple of octogenarians. The old fellow was a tanker with the 13th division in Europe. We had quite a long conversation. Nice guy and his sister was charming.
I hate cops. I hate anybody who is inflexible and can’t use good common sense. I hate rules and orders that are meant to be followed mindlessly. Did I say I hate cops? I really hate stupid cops especially when I’ve spent so much time this evening defending their numbers in clusters since I had heard on the scanner how much they have beed doing to deter looters.
Bluebonnet Acres - Bastrop, Texas
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