Central Texas on Fire 2011

[MuffyBee]

http://www.kvue.com/news/state/129253988.html
Dangerous wildfires burning across North Texas
September 5, 2011

Dangerous wildfires were popping up across North Texas and much of the rest of the state Sunday as gusty winds combined with tinder dry vegetation and low humidity conspired to create favorable conditions.

The Texas Forest Service said it was aware of 50 different range fires burning on Sunday.

Navarro County was hit particulary hard. At the peak, at least 10 fires were burning in and around the county seat of Corsicana.

"The fire right now is probably approaching 2,000 acres," Navarro County Judge H.M. Davenport Jr. told News 8 at 5:30 p.m. Sunday. "There's another fire as well in the Dawson area; we don't know the containment on that just yet."

Davenport acknowledged the additional problems being caused by the weather. "With the wind and the fuel levels, it's pretty tough — even with with all 25 volunteer fire departments in use right now," he said.

There were two big fires in Corsicana. One fire located at Oak and Roan destroyed eight structures.
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In Ellis County, multiple fires were reported along Interstate 45 and US 287.

Firefighters from 25 departments, including some volunteers, are involving in the firefighting effort. State resources have been requested.

A number of wildfires were reported in Cook County near Gainesville. A witness at the JK Bar & Grill told News 8 that a nearby building was ablaze and several streets were blocked off.

Other fires were reported in Dallas, Van Zandt, Rockwall and Cook counties on Sunday.
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Video and photo gallery at link.

[MuffyBee]

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Wildfire-burns-near-Magnolia-2156862.php
Wildfire burns near Magnolia
September 6, 2011

Wildfires have burned more than 118,000 acres and destroyed at least 700 homes statewide, including a large blaze burning in forests in Montgomery, Waller and Grimes counties that has blackened thousands of acres, forced hundreds of residents to flee and shut down several roads and schools.

The blaze near Magnolia has charred 1,600 acres near FM 1488 and FM 1774, and flames are moving southwest, according to the Montgomery County Emergency Management. The leading edge of the fire is near Greenbriar Drive in the Walnut Bend area in Waller County, where firefighters have been able to contain the flames early Tuesday. But crews continue to try to gain the upper hand on the flames in nearby areas.[/b]
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The Bastrop County Complex blaze had charred at least 30,000 acres and appears to have destroyed at least 600 homes, according to the Texas Forest Service. The the fast-moving fire has jumped the Colorado River twice and forced the evacuation of The Circle D, K.C. Estates, Pine Forest, Colovista and Tahitian Village subdivisions.

At least two-thirds of the 6,000-acre Bastrop State Park have burned. The park is home to endangered Houston toads and several historic rock and stone buildings built in the 1930s and 1940s that officials are trying to protect, said Mike Cox of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
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Officials said the Pedernales Bend blaze is burning four miles southeast of Spicewood. The fire has blackened 7,000 acres and burned at least 67 homes. The blaze is 40 percent contained.

The 150-acre fire has forced the evacuation of 150 homes in Steiner Ranch, where Gov. Rick Perry was inspecting damage on Tuesday. The fire, which started just north of the area, has burned 150 acres and destroyed 25 homes.

Texas firefighters have battled 181 fires that have burned 118,413 acres, and more than 700 homes have been destroyed in the last 48 hours.
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[MuffyBee]

Updates on some of the bigger fires:

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/blotter/entries/2011/09/06/leander_firefighters_respondin.html
Bastrop fires continue to burn; Steiner Ranch; Leander blazes partially contained
September 6, 2011 9:03 a.m.

 ::snipping2::
This story will be updated throughout the day as information becomes available.

Bastrop County

Fires in Bastrop County have consumed more than 29,000 acres and continue to spread this morning, forcing new evacuations as it moves closer to the city limits and other crucial property.
0907bastropfires.jpg

Overnight, the main Bastrop fire that broke out Sunday grew to 28,500 acres, and another 300 residents were evacuated, said Melissa Yunis, spokeswoman for the Texas Forest Service. It zero percent contained.

Another Bastrop area fire, dubbed the Union Chapel fire located one mile east of Wyldwood, has consumed 750 acres, damaged 25 homes and is threatening 59 others, officials said. The fire, which has crossed Texas 21, is also zero percent contained, she said.

The service is telling remaining residents to prepare to protect their homes and be ready for evacuation, Yunis said.
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The west flank of the largest fire, which was about 40 square miles late yesterday, is about 2 miles from the Bastrop city limits, Yunis said. About 1,000 residents could be evacuated today, she said.

“Numerous subdivisions, a local hospital, residents, outbuildings such as barns and sheds, ranch land, infrastructure such as power lines and 25 historical cabins at Bastrop State Park are threatened,” she said.
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Nearly 400 personnel are on the ground from the Texas Forest Service and local fire crews, she said. A helicopter and 27 bulldozers are also on the scene.

For more information, call (512) 332-8814 and (512) 332-8856.

Steiner Ranch:

The Steiner Ranch public information officer reports that the fire is 45 percent contained this morning. Twenty-four homes have been destroyed, and another 30 have been damaged over 125 acres. There have been minor injuries to five firefighters.
0907SteinerRanch.jpg

STARFlight helicopters made 300 dumps of water and had been in the air for more than 18 hours yesterday, officials said. Although 24 homes were lost, about 300 that had been threatened were saved.
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Officials expect to release more information about 10:30 a.m., officials said.

Williamson County:

The Leander Fire Department is holding a meeting for residents evacuated from their homes in Leander at 10 a.m. at Rouse High School, 1501 County Road 271. Evacuees must attend the meeting before being allowed back into their homes, county spokeswoman Connie Watson said.

The fire in Leander off Moonglow was 70 percent contained last night, Watson said this morning.

Preliminary reports indicate that the fire has burned approximately 300 acres and destroyed 13 homes.

The Leander Fire Department stayed with the fire throughout the night and is responding to a possible flare-up this morning.
Residents of Mason Creek that evacuated were allowed back into their homes Monday evening, Watson said.
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Residents of Mason Creek North or High Chapparal will not be allowed into their homes until Tuesday morning, possibly about 10 a.m.

Pedernales One

A 6,400-acre fire near Pedernales Bend near Spicewood was about 80 percent contained this morning, officials said. It had destroyed 64 structures, officials said.

Hays County

A mandatory evacuation in Hays County for the Pedernales One fire was lifted this morning, and residents are being allowed back into their homes, officials said.
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The fire was contained on the north side of Hamilton Pool Road this morning, officials said. Fire personnel in Hays County watched the area for hotspots overnight and will continue to do so today as necessary.

Maps and links to updates at link, top of this page

[MuffyBee]

http://twitter.com/#!/search?q=%23centraltxfires

keyetv keyetv
Officials say NOT to call 911 unless you are sure you see smoke and know where it's coming from. 911 is overrun with calls. #centraltxfires
1 minute ago

chrissadeghi Chris Sadeghi
New numbers from #Bastrop. 600 homes destroyed. 30,000 acres burned. Press conference at 10:30. #centraltxfires
4 minutes ago

babshaller Babs Garrett Haller
Driftwood Kennels is doing free boarding to evacuated families in need of animal care. #centraltxfires #txfires
7 minutes ago

[MuffyBee]

http://twitter.com/#!/search?q=%23centraltxfires

AustinUrbanGide Catherine Thomas
#centraltxfires RT @kvue: The YMCA of Austin is offering free child care to Bastrop fire victims: kvue.com/news/local/YMC…
5 minutes ago
»
Lloyd Doggett
RepLloydDoggett Lloyd Doggett
RT @nickb_kvue: If u dont have landline, reverse 911 cant reach you. Register your cell to get warnings bit.ly/1hPPxU #centraltxfires
5 minutes ago

[MuffyBee]

Map of current fire activity:

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

[MuffyBee]

Here's a fire more southeast in Crabbs Prairie, TX (pop. 1700) that is only making local news.  Seven homes were burned.

http://itemonline.com/local/x1095937522/Crabbs-Prairie-fire
Crabbs Prairie fire reignites, claims more homes
September 6, 2011



Crabbs Prairie fire
This image from the Crabbs Prairie fire was shot from Highway 75 North.

Strong winds and dry conditions caused the Crabbs Prairie fire to reignite Monday afternoon and it claimed seven homes belonging to Walker County residents, according to reports from the Walker County Office of Emergency Management.

[MuffyBee]

http://twitter.com/#!/search?q=%23centraltxfires



KXAN_News KXAN News
If you're out of town and want to hear what Gov Perry said about the fires, here's the video. bit.ly/pOyM3H #txfire #centraltxfires
1 minute ago

sprittibee Sprittibee
RT @OrneryTX: #centraltxfires #txfire RT @KVUE The YMCA of Austin offering free child care 4 Bastrop fire victims: bit.ly/qsOKWl
1 minute ago

[MuffyBee]

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/nationnow/2011/09/texas-wildfires-more-than-1000-homes-lost.html
Texas wildfires: More than 1,000 homes lost, thousands evacuated
September 6, 2011

The wildfires in Texas continue to roar out of control, destroying more than 1,000 homes. With seemingly no end to the flames in sight, more than 5,000 residents were evacuated from the most-threatened areas.

Gov. Rick Perry told CBS that he hopes that today's forecast calling for cooler temperatures and slowing winds would help firefighters make headway. But he stressed: "It's still a very critical and very fluid situation."
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The disaster continued to unfold overnight: 22 new fires cropped up, at least 10 of which were labeled "large" by the Texas Forest Service. Combined, they have already consumed more than 7,544 acres. In all, there are an estimated 85 fires burning in the state.

Some of the newest fires were triggered by power lines that were torn down in the winds, or by residents barbecuing or getting in some chores -- such as welding -- over the long Labor Day weekend. Such seemingly innocent activities offered just enough spark to fuel a fire.

"It's hot, dry and windy," Melanie Stradling, a spokeswoman for the Texas Forest Service, told The Times. "It's extremely hot on a regular basis, and you've got high winds and heat and lack of rain."

The wildfires are particularly serious in Bastrop County, east of Austin, where more than 5,000 residents were evacuated. At least 476 homes were destroyed there, the highest number of homes ever lost in a single fire in Texas history.
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[MuffyBee]

Look at these pictures...  

http://twitter.com/#!/search?q=%23centraltxfires

LizJamesTweets Liz James Designs
Praying for all involved! RT @TexasMonthly: Punch-to-the-gut wildfire photo gallery from @TheAtlantic su.pr/2DNPgQ #centraltxfires
3 minutes ago

[MuffyBee]

http://www.kvue.com/
Bastrop fire burns 30,000 acres; no containment
September 6, 2011

BASTROP, Texas -- Flames are still being monitored from a massive wildfire that has scorched at least 30,000 acres and destroyed close to 600 homes.

Firefighters were kept busy overnight Tuesday, doing all they can to try and save people's homes and stop the destruction.  Their job was made even more difficult after a new fire broke out in the Bastrop area last night. No one is sure what kindled the fire in Union Chapel and Hobbs Creek. 750 acres were burned in Union Chapel and that fire is 10 percent contained. 25 homes were destroyed there Monday night.
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Video at Link

[MuffyBee]

http://www.kvue.com/news/Steiner-Ranch-residents-returning-home-129312498.html
Steiner Ranch residents returning home
September 6, 2011

AUSTIN, TX -- Firefighters are allowing residents in Steiner Ranch to return home beginning at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday.
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Firefighters say the flames are still just 45 percent contained. The risk remains for another fire to start because of low-humidity levels, a slight breeze and dry patches of grass that could easily spark a flare-up.
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There are burnt remnants of vehicles in driveways. Homes are wiped out by flames, in some cases nothing is left except for the slab of foundation. In all, the fire in Steiner Ranch destroyed or damaged 54 homes.

Flames inched close to another 300 homes but firefighters were able to save them.

There has been a large outpouring of support in Steiner Ranch among neighbors. It will be a long recovery. Although people are getting back home, firefighters say they should be prepared to evacuate again should a flare up spark another blaze.

In the meantime, a haze sits over the community. The fire will smolder for at least another three to five days. Fire crews will remain on hand to put out hot spots. Crews with electric, gas and cable companies are inside the community restoring service and power.

[MuffyBee]

http://twitter.com/#!/ynnaustin
YNNAustin YNN Austin
CEDAR CREEK UPDATE: 1000 acres, 25 homes lost, another 100-150 homes threatened
39 minutes ago


http://twitter.com/#!/search?q=%23centraltxfires


rhackleman Reagan Hackleman
Officials say the Steiner Ranch fire was caused by swaying power lines that caused a spark to fall on dry brush. #centraltxfires
now


GregAbbott_TX Greg Abbott
Animal care: Picture of the animal shelter at the #Bastrop #centraltxfires evacuation center yfrog.com/hw1yzpj
4 minutes ago

[MuffyBee]

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/blotter/entries/2011/09/06/leander_firefighters_respondin.html
Fire starts near Northwest Austin neighborhood; Bastrop fires also raging
September 6, 2011 01:10 PM

Austin

A brush fire close to a neighborhood near MoPac Boulevard and Duval Road in Northwest Austin is threatening several structures, officials said.

The fire, which started about 1 p.m., is near the 12000 block of Mustang Chase and the 12000 block of Dorssett Lane in the Angus Valley subdivision, fire officials said.

Crews are setting a perimeter around the fire and blocking residents from entering the neighborhood.
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Bastrop County



The massive wildfire in Bastrop County has now burned around 30,000 acres, destroyed nearly 500 homes and forced 20 neighborhoods to evacuate, officials said at a press conference this morning. The largest fire remains zero percent contained, officials said.

A second fire called the “Union Chapel Fire” that broke out yesterday, has burned approximately 1,000 acres, officials said, destroying 25 homes. Between 100 and 150 homes are still threatened.

The area has been declared a federal disaster area and more planes will be circling the area soon, Bastrop County Judge Ronnie McDonald said.

The damage is “severe,” said Mike Fisher, the county’s emergency management coordinator.

Bastrop schools will closed for another day tomorrow, officials said today.

More than 360 firefighters, 47 engines and 27 dozers are battling the fires on the ground, while four helicopters are in the air, Fisher said.
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All but 50 to 100 acres of the 6,000-acre Bastrop State Park has been affected by the fire, a state parks spokesman said today, but all but three of the park’s historic structures have been spared.

However, the endangered Houston Toad, whose main habitat is the park, may not be so lucky.

At this point, with the fire still burning, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department spokesman Mike Cox said it is not clear just what percentage of the park and its unique forest has been destroyed.

“We’re talking about burned trees and blackened ground,” said Cox, adding that he was standing in what amounted to a gentle snowfall of ashes from the fire. “The whole east side (of the park) still seems to be burning.”
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The nine-hole golf course on the park’s west tip, near the confluence of Texas 21 and Texas 150, and the swimming pool have survived, he said.
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Steiner Ranch:


Steiner Ranch has been reopened for residents, who must show identification at check points to be allowed into the affected areas, officials said.

The fire is about 45 percent contained, officials said. Twenty-four homes have been destroyed, and another 30 have been damaged over 125 acres. There have been minor injuries to five firefighters.

Residents will be allowed to return via the Quinlan Park Road entrance, officials said. The Steiner Ranch Road entrance will be closed.

Officials did not know how long it will take to contain the blaze but said there will be smoke in the area for three to five days.

It is possible people will have to be evacuated again, Lake Travis Fire Rescue Chief Jim Linardos said.
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STARFlight helicopters made 300 dumps of water and had been in the air for more than 18 hours yesterday, officials said. Although 24 homes were lost, about 300 that had been threatened were saved.
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Williamson County:

The Moonglow fire in Leander has burned 300 acres, destroyed 11 homes and damaged nine others, fire officials said today.



“We’re hoping that number doesn’t climb,” Leander Fire Department Chief Bill Gardner said. “It’s a ground battle. Air resources are not available.”

The fire is currently 70 percent contained, Gardner said. Three firefighters suffered non-serious injuries.

At the peak evacuation period, 500 people left their homes, Gardner said. That has now decreased to 120.
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Pedernales One



A fire near Pedernales Bend near Spicewood was about 80 percent contained this morning, officials said. About 12,000 acres have been affected and about 23 homes were destroyed, Travis County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Roger Wade said today. Another 44 structures have been damaged.


There have been no new evacuations this morning, officials said.

More than 150 firefighters from 17 agencies have responded to the blaze, including two airplanes, officials said.

Firefighters today are checking damaged homes, making sure everything is extinguished and putting out hotspots, said Capt. Peter Teliha with the Austin Fire Department. Firefighters are also checking for problems with propane tanks that exploded, he said.

Most of homes damaged or destroyed are on the west side of the Pedernales River, officials said. About half of the 12,000 acres affected is open ranch land, Wade said.

There has been no preliminary cause available for this fire, Wade said.
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Hays County

A mandatory evacuation in Hays County for the Pedernales One fire was lifted this morning, and residents are being allowed back into their homes, officials said.

Hamilton Pool Road in now open, officials said.

The fire was contained on the north side of Hamilton Pool Road this morning, officials said. Fire personnel in Hays County watched the area for hotspots overnight and will continue to do so today as necessary.

About 210 homes had been evacuated in the Stagecoach Ranches neighborhood, the Bell Springs Road-Lost Creek Road-Grand Summit Road area, Cedar Springs Ranch, River Oaks Ranch and Ranches at Hamilton Pool.
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[MuffyBee]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhJeDYQVtdQ&feature=youtu.be
See how fast wildfire spreads - Texas Parks and Wildlife [Official]
Video shot September 5, 2011 on the north edge of Bastrop State Park

[MuffyBee]

http://twitter.com/#!/KXAN_News
KXAN_News KXAN News
Michael Teague sends us video of his drive through Bastrop County yesterday. youtu.be/wrn4M5U5G90 #txfire
16 minutes ago
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrn4M5U5G90&feature=youtu.be
Devastating Wildfire Bastrop Texas
Uploaded by MrMarine2619 on Sep 5, 2011

Here is a fairly long video we took today of all the devastation back off of 21 in the cardinal loop, ponderosa,cardinal drive and pine path area as of about 10am this morning. our hearts go out to those who have lost everything. The Lost Pines of Bastrop, Texas are officially lost.

[MuffyBee]

http://twitter.com/#!/search?q=%23centraltxfires

rachelcweiner Rachel Weiner
google map of fire activity ticc.tamu.edu/Response/FireA… #centraltxfires
2 minutes ago

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

[MuffyBee]

http://www.texas-fire.com/2011/09/officials-waller-county-subdivision-nearly-destroyed-in-wildfire/
Officials: Waller County subdivision nearly destroyed in wildfire
September 6, 2011

Strong winds have rekindled parts of a wildfire that’s been burning in Montgomery, Grimes and Waller counties since Monday afternoon. The fire, which is believed to have destroyed about 80 homes, prompted mandatory evacuation orders for a number of communities.

In Waller County, the evacuation zone expanded Tuesday to about 8,000 homes and businesses just east of the Renaissance Festival grounds, including all residences to the west of where FM 1774 and 1488 meet in Magnolia, with Riley and Reids Prairie Roads bordering to the north, FM 362 to the west and Joseph Road to the south. In Grimes County, an evacuation order was in effect for the Lake Hollyhill, Lake Holly Springs and Foxfire subdivisions. In Montgomery County, an evacuation order remained in effect for River Park Ranch, Ranch Crest and Magnolia West. Residents of Alford Estates, Woodland Land Lakes, Week End Retreats, Wisteria Farms and Deer Haven were allowed to return to their homes Tuesday afternoon.

Waller County officials said 90 percent of the Remington Forest subdivision was destroyed, with anywhere from 50 to 75 homes lost. The Montgomery County Fire Marshal said the blaze destroyed at least two homes – a brick home on Ruel Road and a mobile home on Pecos Ranch Road, as well as a number of other outbuildings and barns in the Ranch Crest and River Park Ranch subdivisions. There were reports of at least one home and a fire truck destroyed in Grimes County.
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[MuffyBee]

http://austin.ynn.com/content/top_stories/280331/apd-detains-person-of-interest-in-northwest-austin-fires
APD detains person of interest in Northwest Austin fires
September 6, 2011

Officers with the Austin Police Department have detained a person of interest in connection to "multiple spot fires" in Northwest Austin Tuesday.

The fires erupted in an area between Highway 183 and MoPac, just south of Parmer, near the Riata apartment complex.
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[MuffyBee]

New fire today:

http://austin.ynn.com/content/top_stories/280332/crews-battle-2-alarm-brush-fire-in-mustang-ridge
Crews battle 2-alarm brush fire in Mustang Ridge
September 6, 2011

Fire crews are working a 2-alarm brush fire off of Maha Loop Road in Mustang Ridge.

Firefighters and sheriff's deputies are discussing evacuations on the radio.

The fire is east of Highway 183, between state highways 130 and 21.
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