Extreme Wildfire Danger: Texas Wildfires

[srainhoutx]

Update from Texas Forest Service:

Wildfire Update – Sept. 5, 2011

Current situation:
Texas Forest Service responded to at least 56 new fires Sunday that burned approximately 30,000 acres, including the following large fires:

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.

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.

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, unknown containment. 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, unknown containment. One hundred homes were saved; none lost. The fire is burning East of Gilmer.

LUTHERHILL, Fayette County. 400 acres, unknown containment. The community of Ruttersville was evacuated.

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. 100 acres, unknown containment. Fifteen homes are reported lost.

[srainhoutx]

Morning e-mail from Jeff...(included the TFS update noted above)...

Horrible Fire Weather Conditions for today.

Red Flag Warnings are in effect until 1000pm tonight

Yesterday, 56 large fires developed burning 30,000 acres with 2 fatalities.

Weather Discussion:
Winds are already gusty this morning and will only worsen as the pressure gradient between Lee and the cold front which swept off the coast last evening creates winds of 20-35mph this afternoon. A very dry air mass with dewpoints in the 40’s will spread southward and cover the entire region by late morning. This will drive afternoon RH to less than 15% across the entire region. Dry/dead fuels will support explosive fire growth.

As seen yesterday, fires that develop will be fast moving and nearly unstoppable. Very dangerous crown fires are likely in pine and cedar areas resulting in fast forward spread (similar to the Bastrop fire). Fire lines will be breached by downstream spot fires in the strong winds along with crowning overrunning fire lines. Ground crews were unable to hold fire lines on Sunday with multiple breaches of their fire breaks.

Have a fire plan if a fire approaches your location. If told to evacuate do so immediately, it will save your life!

[Katdaddy]

From Texas Forest Service 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.

[singlemom]

Please don't flame me for this as what's happening in Bastrop is just plain horrible...but.....in thinking of a typical California firestorm, and looking at how the Bastrop fire is bowing....and looking to it's somewhat proximity to Katy.....okay I know....a long ways away.....and thinking about fires to our North in Huntsville.....I know it's crazy but is anyone else mildly concerned?

As for my Mom's fire, information is still difficult. I do know it's the Moore fire in Gregg\Smith County. I think it's 45% contained as of this morning....1,000 acres.

Edit: As in I walked out my front door in Spring this morning and smelled smoke....lots of it

[Portastorm]

The Steiner Ranch fire (probably the closest one to the general Austin metro area and about 10 miles west of town) is 0% contained and grown to 100 acres. Officials are holding a press conference about now. Residents still not allowed anywhere near the area.

We also have another fire burning in the far western reaches of Travis County.

[sambucol]

Highway 71 near Bastrop. Pray!!

[srainhoutx]

Fingers crossed as the Texas Fire sat imagery suggests so far no new large fires have broken out. That imagery does show fires in Bastrop and NE TX as well as one large fire in S Central Oklahoma...extreme caution is still advised as the afternoon hours seem to be when fire conditions can become far more conducive to rapid development...

[Portastorm]

The Steiner Ranch fire is reportedly 20% contained now. 25 homes destroyed and 25 damaged. No set return yet for the entire neighborhood as it remains evacuated. Meanwhile, a new fire has cropped up in east Austin (Hwy 290/Burleson Road) and is unfortunately very close to a major propane facility.

New fires also popping up in Bastrop and near Cedar Creek.

[srainhoutx]

Darn...

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FIRE WARNING
TEXAS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TEXAS
RELAYED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
1220 PM CDT MON SEP 5 2011

THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS TRANSMITTED AT THE REQUEST OF THE
BASTROP COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGER.

A MANDATORY EVACUATION NOTICE HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR PEOPLE IN THE
FOLLOWING RESIDENCES IN THE CEDAR CREEK AREA OF BASTROP COUNTY...

...AREAS BETWEEN HIGHWAY 21 AND FM ROAD 1209...NEAR LEISURE LANE...
AND NEAR AND TO THE SOUTHWEST OF UNION CHAPEL ROAD.

[srainhoutx]

E-mail update from Jeff:

Extraordinary fire event in progress across much of Texas and will continue through tonight

In the last 24 hours over 400 homes have burned, over 4,000 homes have been threatened, and over 6,000 residents displaced.

Red Flag Warning conditions in progress at this time across the entire area with winds already sustained at 15-25mph with gust at or above 35mph. Air mass continues to dry and RH is already at or below 30-40% across the entire region. Ongoing fires not contained continue to burn rapidly southward with numerous spot fires developing downstream of the wind direction and our their western and eastern flanks. Fire lines continue to be overrun.

Bastrop Fire: 25,000 acres burned. Fire is burning out of control requiring massive evacuations. 50% of Bastrop State Park burned overnight and the fire has now jumped HWY 71 and Hwy 95. Both HWY 21 and HWY 71 are closed until further notice. Several fixed wing aircraft along with Blackhawk helicopters are battling this fire from the air dropping both water and slurry. Ground crews are offering structure protection. The fire continues to exhibit large long lived crown runs making ground operations extremely dangerous. At least 350 homes have burned and several hundred more are threatened. The fire is 0% contained.

Spicewood Fire: 7,000 acres now burned. 20 homes lost, 30 damages. TFS and multiple local departments responding. Austin Starflight is providing water drops from Lake Travis.

Steiner Ranch Fire: 150 acres burned, 25 homes destroyed, 40 others damaged. Numerous homes have been evacuated. Fire is estimated to be 25% contained. A TFS strike team is on this fire.

Fayette County Fire: 2,000 acres burning, 0% contained. Ruttersville is under a mandatory evacuation order. 7 homes lost.

Colorado County: 1,500 acres burned just east of Columbus and N of I-10. Unknown containment. 40 homes threatened. Multiple heavy air tankers dropping water and slurry are working this fire along with TFS dozer crews to cut fire lines.

Caldwell County: 1,000 acres burned. Fire is 10% contained. 20 homes threatened, 6 were lost.

Response:

National Guard helicopters are being used for water drops. Texas has enacted its mutual aid System with other states with heavy air tankers arriving today from South Dakota. 15 air tankers are currently fighting the fires from the air along with 12 helicopters and 13 aerial supervision aircraft along with several dozer strike teams. All local fire departments across the area have all available personnel attempting to hold fragile fire lines and offer structure protection.

If you smell smoke or see fire call 911 immediately.

[srainhoutx]

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
FIRE WARNING
TEXAS DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
RELAYED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
308 PM CDT MON SEP 5 2011

THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS TRANSMITTED AT THE REQUEST OF THE
ANDERSON COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

A LARGE GRASS FIRE IS CURRENTLY BURNING OUT OF CONTROL WEST OF
ELKHART. THE ANDERSON COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGER HAS ISSUED AN
EVACUATION ORDER FOR ALL RESIDENTS SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 294...NORTH OF
ANDERSON COUNTY ROADS 118 AND 122...AND WEST OF FARM TO MARKET
ROAD 322 TO THE LEON COUNTY LINE. A SHELTER HAS BEEN SET UP AT
DOGWOOD HILL BAPTIST CHURCH ON HIGHWAY 79 EAST. DO NOT DRIVE INTO
HEAVY OR DENSE SMOKE...NEVER CROSS ANY BARRICADED ROADWAYS. MORE
INFORMATION WILL BE PROVIDED AS ANDERSON COUNTY RELAYS IT.

[srainhoutx]

E-mail from Jeff:

Numerous wildfires developing and threatening thousands of homes across E, SE, and C TX. Hundreds of homes have burned. Fires continue to burn out of control.

Wildfire has developed near the junction of Grimes County/Waller County/Montgomery County based on visible satellite image and radar data.

Fire is burning south quickly, residents in SW Montgomery County, extreme NW Harris County, eastern Waller County should be prepared to evacuate. If you can see smoke be ready to leave!

Bastrop fire has really exploded again this afternoon with nearly 40dbz showing on radar. Fire is burning out of control. Numerous other fires are burning across central TX.

[singlemom]

Friends who live near the Ren Fair in Magnolia are telling of a huge fire, but I can't find any information about it anywhere. Have you guys heard of anything?

[srainhoutx]

Friends who live near the Ren Fair in Magnolia are telling of a huge fire, but I can't find any information about it anywhere. Have you guys heard of anything?

Everything is breaking very quickly. Radar was the first clue something was up unless you are in the immediate area.

[srainhoutx]

Smoke plume from the Waller County fire is very visible from my location.

[srainhoutx]

KHOU is enroute to the Montgomery/Grimes Counties fires for coverage

[TexasBreeze]

What starts all of these fires? Cars, bbq's, arson? Etc it's terrible out there across the state.

[srainhoutx]

KHOU is advising me that the Montgomery/Grimes County fire is near the Texas Renaissance Festival site.

[srainhoutx]

From Jeff:

Major wildfire is rapidly developing near the Waller/Grimes/Montgomery
County line.

Evacuations have been ordered for the following locations: Lake Holly
Hills subdivision. At least 60 homes are being threatened.

A large smoke plume is developing and spreading SW into NW Harris
County.

Bastrop Fire Update: 470 homes now lost, 25,000 acres now burned. Fire
is 0% contained.

Picture of fire in SW Montgomery County at SH 249 and FM 2920...looking
Northwest is attached

[texaskaz]

we live near Hooks, Thank you for all the updates!