Extreme Wildfire Danger: Texas Wildfires

[srainhoutx]

Texas Fire Imagery from TCEQ...

[srainhoutx]

E-mail from Jeff:

Fire Emergency declared for Grimes and Montgomery Counties.

Fire Emergency declared for Houston County

Fire Emergency remains in effect for Bastrop County.

Mandatory evacuations ordered for the Lake Holly Hill subdivision. At least 60 homes are threatened and 3 have burned.

Numerous fire departments from as far away as Conroe are responding to this 150 acre fire. TFS has no air support (all aircraft) are currently working other fires in central and NE Texas. Ground crews are trying to keep the fire from jumping 1774,but without air support there is no offensive operations in progress at this time.

Massive pine crown runs are in progress on this fire spreading it rapidly to the south. Spot fires from burning embers are developing downstream fires away from the main fire.

Residents south of FM 1774 should be ready to evacuate.

Massive smoke plume from this fire and numerous other fires N of Houston is overspreading the area at this time.

A full update on all the fires will be sent later this evening.

[srainhoutx]

Sad e-mail from Jeff:

Catastrophic fire weather event continues to unfold across Texas.

Thousands of residents are displaced, hundreds of homes have burned, and over 35,000 acres have burned in the last two days.

Fire fighting capabilities are being depleted, Texas has executed its mutual aid agreement and out of state resources are responding including heavy air tankers, helicopters, and fire strike teams from the western US.

Since Sunday morning: over 550 homes have burned, 35,000 acres burned, 6,500 residents evacuated, 78 major fires have developed (countless other smaller fires, 500 acres or less).

Austin FD is requesting anyone with fire fighting experience to call 512-978-1187, ground resources have been depleted across central Texas.

Bastrop Fire:
Catastrophic fire has now burned 26,000 acres and 476 homes. Hundreds of homes are threatened and 5,000 residents are under mandatory evacuation orders in 19 subdivisions. Several entire subdivisions along HWY 21 and HWY 71 have burned. HWY 21 and HWY 71 are closed. 50% of Bastrop State Park has burned. Thousands of fire fighters are responding from across the state along with several heavy air tankers from as far away as South Dakota and multiple Blackhawk helicopters. There is great need for animal/livestock transport and housing from this fire, I do not have a contact number for this effort. This fire is 0% contained.

Spicewood Fire:
6,400 acres have burned with 22 homes lost and 64 damaged in 5 subdivisions. Fire extended from Honey Flat on Lake Travis to Dripping Springs. Fire is 80% contained, but continues to flare up on the eastern flank. Grounds crews are holding fire lines.

Steiner Ranch Fire:
Unknown acres burned. 25 homes lost and 20 damaged (preliminary). 300 homes were saved. Unknown containment

Leon County Fire:
3,500 acres burning in tall grass and Cedar trees. 300 residents evacuated to College Station area. 50 homes are threatened and 15 have burned including 1 church. Fire is 10% contained.

Grimes/Montgomery County Fire:
150 acres burning in pine forest. Fire is burning hot and fast toward the south with long crown runs in the tops of Pine trees. 60 homes in the Lake Holly Hills subdivision are threatened (under mandatory evacuations). Shelters are set up at Magnolia High School and the Magnolia Community Center. Fire is 0% contained and there is no air support for this fire. ANYONE WITH TRAILERS OR TRUCKS IN THE MAGNOLIA AREA CAN HELP DAKOTA RESCUE AND COLLIE RESCUE GET OUT? COLLIE RESCUE HAS 27 DOGS IN LINE OF FIRE....NEAR 1774.

Update: Evacuation area being expanded shortly.

All air resources have been depleted.

Houston County Fire:
Fire is burning in Houston County. Mandatory evacuation in effect along CR 4505, 4529, 4520 and PR 9542. A shelter has been set up in Crockett.

Numerous other fires are burning across east and northeast Texas with hundreds of homes being threatened and thousands of acres burning especially around Longview and in Gregg County. There are just too many to go through. You can visit the Texas Forecast Service website for updates on current fires: http://txforestservice.tamu.edu/main/ar ... x?id=12888


Weather Conditions:
Gusty north winds will weaken overnight, but RH will be very slow to recover. Ongoing fires should slow allowing ground crews to make offensive gains. Winds will pick up again on Tuesday but stay in the 5-15mph range. Fire conditions will remain critical for the rest of the week, although winds will be weaker.

[unome]

the link Ed posted earlier http://tx.dtswildfire.com/ says the Riley Rd fire in Grimes/Montgomery Co is 3,000 acres, have been hearing helicopters nonstop - a lot of smoke on the horizon to the NNW of Cypress

[texaskaz]

Anyone know about fire:

Fire Name: Tamina
County: Montgomery
Start Date: 09/05/2011
Acres: 100
http://ticc.tamu.edu/Response/FireActiv ... spxPercent Contained: Unknown%


http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/courier/ ... 0d5c8.html


EDIT CONTAINED: http://montgomerycountypolicereporter.com/?p=31976

[singlemom]

Anyone know about fire:

Fire Name: Tamina
County: Montgomery
Start Date: 09/05/2011
Acres: 100
http://ticc.tamu.edu/Response/FireActiv ... spxPercent Contained: Unknown%


http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/courier/ ... 0d5c8.html

TAMU's fire activity says it's 80% contained. *Really* suprised no local news mentioned it, and not much more on what's going on everywhere else around us. I'm digging for every bit of information I can find....

[tgal]

I just wanted to take a moment to say a huge thank you to everyone here. If it were not for this board and facebook there would be no information available to us near these fires. I am disappointed that none of the networks think that this warrants some air time but at least we have you to get us the information that we need.

Thanks again for being here and for sharing the information that you have.

[Andrew]

Update from jeff:

Unprecedented wildfires burn across Texas.

Thousands of homes are threatened and over 40,000 acres have burned in the last 36 hours . 700 homes have been lost in the last 48 hours.

Texas Forest Service has responded to 22 new fires on Monday burning 7544 acres. In the past 7 days there have been 181 large fires which have burned 118,413 acres.

Weather:
Winds finally clamed overnight as the remains of Lee moved NE into the NE US and surface high pressure built into Texas. This has resulted in much weaker winds of less than 5mph for most of the night allowing ground crews the ability to make offensive attacks on the fires. However RH values have not recovered much with the very dry air mass in place (only around 50%) this morning and will begin to fall very quickly by mid morning. RH values this afternoon will fall to less than 20% across the entire region. Winds will begin to increase around mid morning and peak during the afternoon hours around 10-15mph (about 10mph less than yesterday). With weaker winds today ground crews will have better ability to make and hold fire lines and start to defensive operations. Given the very dry vegetation, crown runs are still possible especially on the hotter fires, but they should not be as long lived or as extensive as Sunday/Monday when driven by the powerful winds.

Extended:
By the end of the week, forecast models are trying to develop a tropical system over the Bay of Campeche on the tail end of the cold front that moved through Sunday. Pressure gradient looks like it may begin to tighten again with winds developing from the E and ESE. With RH remaining fairly low, critical fire weather concerns may develop again with potential for wind driven fires returning. This threat will remain until widespread wetting rains fall. If no rains fall, similar conditions to this weekend will be experienced behind each fall cold front and some very large fires can be expected. No rain is expected for the next 10-14 days!

Note: First few visible images this morning show extensive smoke across much of east/central and south Texas from the ongoing fires. An air quality alert has been issued today for Harris County has this smoke will combine with light winds to produce poor air quality.

All Texas Forest Service and Texas military forces aircraft are currently deployed. Texas has activated its mutual aid agreements with other states and additional heavy air tankers and super heavy air tankers will be arriving today from the western US states. Air and ground attacks today will likely help bring some of the fires under containment or at least slow their forward spread.

Bastrop Fire:
30,000 acres burned, 520 homes lost, 1,000 homes threatened. Fire continues to burn southward and eastward. Heavy air support from both air tankers and helicopters continue to work this fire along with at least 1500 fire fighters. At least 20 subdivisions are evacuated and 5-6 have burned completely. HWY 71 and Hwy 21 are closed. This is currently the largest fire burning in the state of Texas. FEMA Grant was received on this fire. 60% of Bastrop State Park has now burned. This fire is 0% contained.

Grimes County Fire:
3,000 acres burned, unknown containment. 20 homes lost, at least 150 homes are immediately threatened and over 300 more homes in the fire path. Mandatory evacuation order remains in effect for 8,000 residents in Grimes, Waller, and Montgomery Counties. Fire has been showing extreme behavior and tree crowning west of Magnolia and continues to actively burn southward. A FEMA Management Assistance Grant was received on this fire. Fire is 0% contained.

Spicewood Fire (Travis County):
6500 acres burned, 67 homes have been lost. The fire has jumped the Pedernales River and continues to burn southward. Numerous evacuations orders are in place. At least 500 homes are threatened. Fire is 80% contained. FEMA grant was received.

Steiner Ranch Fire (Travis County):
125 acre, 35 homes burned. 1000 homes threatened. Fire is 40% contained. FEMA Grant was received.

Montgomery County (Tamina Rd):
150 acres burned. Appears to be contained. 200 homes evacuated, with 400 additional threatened.

Union Chapel Fire (Bastrop County):
750 acres burned. 10% contained. 25 homes burned on the west side of Bastrop. Mandatory evacuations in place for western City of Bastrop. Heavy air support was unable to contain the fire.

Fayette County Fire:
Fie continues to burn near Ruttersville, 2000 acres burned, 7 homes lost (fire is 50% contained).

Houston County:
150 acres burning in heavy timber east of I-45. Mandatory evacuation orders are in place for CR 4505,4529,4120,4520,8120,4130,4141,4145, PR 9542,8015, and Possum Pass Rd. Unknown containment. 15 homes have been lost.

Leon County Fire:
3,000 acres burned near Robbins. 300 homes evacuated, 15 homes were lost. Unknown containment.

Walker County Fire:
Fire is burning 200 acres east of I-45. Unknown containment. 30 homes are being evacuated, 5 homes have been lost.

Colorado County Fire:
Fire has burned 3500 acres in mainly grass and shrubs. 8 homes have been lost. Fire is 50% contained.

Caldwell County Fire:
8000 acres have burned. Fire is 45% contained.

[unome]

Texas Interagency Situation Report, posted online here every day: http://ticc.tamu.edu/

http://ticc.tamu.edu/Documents/Home/tx_sitrep.pdf

edit to highlight this note from the document:

*Note: Details on many fires are still unconfirmed. The Dispatch Tracker System was down most of yesterday
and went down again this morning. Most of the details below are from late last night.

[unome]

Officials: Major progress made as Riley Road Fire nearly 85-percent contained

http://www.khou.com/news/Wildfire-threa ... 68548.html

[srainhoutx]

Afternoon e-mail from Jeff:

Elevated to extreme fire conditions continue across Texas with several large fires remaining active.

1,023 homes have burned in the last 3 days across Texas.

Incredible amount of air support has been brought into action over Texas to battle the unprecedented wildfire threat. This includes: Six heavy air tankers, three 1,500-gallon scoopers, 15 single-engine air tankers, 12 helicopters, and 12 aerial supervision aircraft are in place. Eight National Guard Blackhawk and three Chinook helicopters have been providing critical aerial support. In addition, a 12,000-gallon DC-10 air tanker will be activated Friday morning at the Austin-Bergstrom Airport.

Weather:
Very dry afternoon RH and gusty winds of 5-15mph continue to result in poor fire weather conditions across the area. Fires have laid down overnight only to flare up each afternoon. Will continue with this pattern into the weekend as now TS Nate in the southern Gulf of Mexico helps draw dry air southward maintaining the fire weather threat. Winds which have turned more NE and E over the last 24 hours will likely back to the N on Thursday as a surge of dry air moves southward. Will continue with afternoon speeds of 10-15mph.

Grimes/Waller County Fire:
Fire has flared up this afternoon requiring new evacuations in Waller County for residents south of FM 1488, from Kickapoo Road south to Joseph Road, and Joseph Road back to FM 1488, needed to evacuate and move south of Joseph Road immediately. Affected areas include Kickapoo Road, Rice Road and Oak Hollow. Also, residents from Hegar Road eastward to the county line need to evacuate to the south. Fire is burning to the SSW in fresh NE winds this afternoon. 7,800 acres has burned with 90-100 homes lost. Numerous agencies continue to respond to this fire. Smoke plume and pyro-cumulus clouds are visible from Houston. Fie is 85% contained. Several fire departments from across the area are working this fire including Cy-Fair, Spring, Conroe, and numerous VFD’s from Waller, Brazos, Grimes, and Montgomery counties. A FEMA Management Assistance Grant was received on this fire.
Fort Bend County:
Fire has started within the last hour near HWY 36 near Needville. Numerous fire departments are responding including Richmond, Needville, Fairchild, Rosenberg, Beasley, and Pecan Grove. Fire is burning southward. Fixed wing aircraft are actively dropping water on this fire. I can see this fire from my house and the smoke column is about 2,000 feet in the air.
Bastrop Fire:
2 fatal. 42,000 acres burned, 758 homes lost, 500 homes threatened. Fire continues to burn southward and eastward but has slowed today and for the first time is 30% contained. Heavy air support from both air tankers and helicopters continue to work this fire along with at least 350 fire fighters. 11 aircraft are working this fire along with at least 14 dozer crews. At least 20 subdivisions are evacuated and 5-6 have burned completely. HWY 71 and Hwy 21 are closed. This is currently the largest fire burning in the state of Texas and is now the most destructive fire ever in TX history. FEMA Grant was received on this fire. 80% of Bastrop State Park has now burned. This fire is 15% contained. The burn area is 24 miles long by 20 miles wide.

Spicewood Fire (Travis County):
6500 acres burned, 67 homes have been lost (22 in one subdivision). The fire has jumped the Pedernales River and continues to burn southward. Numerous evacuations orders are in place. At least 500 homes are threatened. Fire is 80% contained. 17 state agencies are working his fire along with 150 fire fighters. FEMA grant was received.

Steiner Ranch Fire (Travis County):
162 acre, 35 homes burned. 1000 homes threatened. Fire is contained and the evacuation order has been lifted. FEMA Grant was received.

Montgomery County (Tamina Rd):
150 acres burned. 100% contained. 200 homes evacuated, with 400 additional threatened.

Union Chapel Fire (Bastrop County):
920 acres burned. 20% contained. 27 homes burned on the west side of Bastrop. Mandatory evacuations in place for western City of Bastrop. Heavy air support was unable to contain the fire.

Fayette County Fire:
Fire continues to burn near Ruttersville, 2700 acres burned, 7 homes lost (fire is 95% contained).

Houston County:
3,000 acres burning in heavy timber east of I-45. Mandatory evacuation orders are in place for CR 4505,4529,4120,4520,8120,4130,4141,4145, PR 9542,8015, and Possum Pass Rd. 90% containment. 15 homes have been lost.

Leon County Fire:
4,000 acres burned near Robbins. 300 homes evacuated, 20 homes were lost. 0% containment.

Walker County Fire:
Fire is burning 1000 acres east of I-45. 90% containment. 30 homes are being evacuated, 5 homes have been lost.

Colorado County Fire:
Fire has burned 3500 acres in mainly grass and shrubs. 8 homes have been lost. Fire is 75% contained.

Caldwell County Fire:
8000 acres have burned. Fire is 60% contained.

Cass County:
30,000 acres burned. Fire is burning in heavy pine plantation. 0% contained

[weathermom]

Does anyone know any information on the fires in Anderson County? I heard there were fires in Elkhart -one near Lakeview, and more somewhere else nearby. The information is very sketchy. My elderly parents live up there. They do not have very sophisticated communication. I'm trying to keep an eye on things in the area in case they need to evacuate.

[relic57]

There is also a fire burning near Summer Lake Ranch off W. Lake Houston Pkwy.

http://www.khou.com/news/Firefighters-b ... 23138.html

[tireman4]

Yep, 7 miles from me. Goodness gracious. Again, to quote our dear friend Porta, WORST DROUGHT EVER!!!

[Katdaddy]

Which direction is the fire from you Tireman? Winds very light a variable across the area the evening. This is by far the worst Texas fire season ever. I would just about take a hurricane at this point. At least we can prepare for it in advance unlike a rapidly moving raging wildfire.

[tireman4]

Looks like South of us.

[relic57]

It's less than 2 and half miles South of me here in Eagle Springs.

[texaskaz]

Am I missing something? why is there no live active page listing where fires are? i am following a Facebook page for the best info! A pal at work lives near Oak Hollow and I had to get my itouch out to pull up the facebook page cause there is no live info anywhere! The Montgomery Co OEM page is a joke and I guess Harris County is Hunkered down too much to have any info.

[weathermom]

I just saw a wunderground map showing a fire near League City. Does anyone know exactly where?

[srainhoutx]

Morning e-mail from Jeff:

Elevated to extreme fire weather conditions today.

Surface observations show an incoming sure of dry air moving southward and this will shift winds to the north and increase winds by mid morning. Fires have shown rapid growth potential over the last 2 days with light winds, so the potential today will be a little greater. Expect winds to increase into the 8-13mph range by early afternoon with gust up to 15-18mph by mid to late afternoon. Afternoon RH fell to 11% yesterday at both Tomball and Conroe, and expect similar values today (10-15%) between 100pm and 700pm. Ground fuels are dead/extremely dry and 10-hr vegetation moisture is running between 3-6% across the region.

Potential for rapid fire spread/growth is likely today including a greater threat for longer sustained crown runs and downstream spot fires. Fire lines will be harder to hold today.

Residents across the area should have a wildfire plan and be prepared to enact that plan. Decide now where you will go, what you will take, and how you will get there if an evacuation is order for your area. You may only have minutes to leave!

Bastrop Fire (update):

Incredible losses across Bastrop County as officials reach the hardest burned areas

1386 homes lost, this is more homes lost in this one fire than across the entire state for this entire year.

The devastating Bastrop fire is now 30% contained and is the most destructive fire in TX history burning 42,000 acres. 45 square miles have burned including nearly all of Bastrop State Park. 5,000 residents were evacuated, some are being allowed to return. Over 350 fire fighters from as far away as Brownsville and Amarillo and other States are working this fire along with at least 12 fixed wing and rotary aircraft. 3 heavy air tankers capable of dropping 1500 gallons of water are working this fire.

Riley Rd Fire:
Fire has now burned 10,000 acres (5,000 acres Montgomery County, 3,000 acres Waller County, and 2,000acres in Grimes County), 100 homes have been lost and is 9 miles long by 3.5 miles wide. 4,500 homes are under mandatory evacuation orders. Main fire continues to burn in Waller County where large flare ups yesterday have pushed the fire SW and S overnight. The fire is 85% contained in Montgomery County and 60% contained in Grimes County, containment is unknown in Waller County after overnight flare ups. 8 aircraft are actively working this fire along with hundreds of fire fighters from all across the area.

Evacuation area has been expanded to include the following areas: Clark, Magan, Lively, Carlton Speed Ranch Road, Crawford, Lonestar Road, Whipoorwhill Road and Country Lane Pappas, Camelia, Azalea, Lakeshore, Winona Lane, Wyric Rd, Rustic Lane, Adler Road, Adler Circle, Rolling Hill Ln, Albin Circle, Walnut, Lars Circle, Longs Circle, Dogwood Trail, Deer Run, Hill Top Road, Deer Run, Forrest Hills Subdivision (Pine Tree Court, Pine Tree Lane, Forrest Hills Lane and Willow Bend Lane) County Road 340, Forrest Lane, Pine Lane, Holly Court, Carolyn Court, Cedar Hill Lane, Duke Lane and Walnut Hill Lane.

The evacuation area now extends to the Harris/Waller County line at Spring Creek. Residents south of Spring Creek in Harris County and west of Hegar Rd should be ready to leave if fire lines cannot be held today.

With the winds shifting more to the north today, thick smoke will be moving across parts of Harris, Waller, and Fort Bend Counties. Air quality warning is in effect for NW Harris County north of US 290.

Harris County (Lake Houston):
150 acres burned on the west side of Lake Houston in heavily wooded pine forest. Fire fighters have been able to bring this fire under some control this evening and no evacuations were required. Fire is 95% contained.

Fort Bend County (Needville):
A 700 acre fire burned west of HWY 36 and S of US 59 Wednesday afternoon in the Williams School Rd-Foster School Rd area. 20 fire departments with 100 fire fighters responded along with 2 fixed wing aircraft which dropped water. The fire is 95% contained this morning. 2 buildings were destroyed including a shed with 2 cars and a travel trailer.

Spicewood Fire (Travis County):
6500 acres burned, 67 homes have been lost (22 in one subdivision). The fire has jumped the Pedernales River and continues to burn southward. Numerous evacuations orders are in place. At least 500 homes are threatened. Fire is 80% contained. 17 state agencies are working his fire along with 150 fire fighters. FEMA grant was received.

Steiner Ranch Fire (Travis County):
162 acre, 35 homes burned. 1000 homes threatened. Fire is contained and the evacuation order has been lifted. FEMA Grant was received.

Montgomery County (Tamina Rd):
150 acres burned. 100% contained. 200 homes evacuated, with 400 additional threatened.

Union Chapel Fire (Bastrop County):
920 acres burned. 90% contained. 27 homes burned on the west side of Bastrop. Mandatory evacuations in place for western City of Bastrop. Heavy air support was unable to contain the fire.

Fayette County Fire:
Fire continues to burn near Ruttersville, 2700 acres burned, 7 homes lost (fire is 95% contained).

Houston County:
3,000 acres burning in heavy timber east of I-45. Mandatory evacuation orders are in place for CR 4505,4529,4120,4520,8120,4130,4141,4145, PR 9542,8015, and Possum Pass Rd. 90% containment. 15 homes have been lost.

Leon County Fire:
4,000 acres burned near Robbins. 300 homes evacuated, 20 homes were lost. 0% containment.

Walker County Fire:
Fire is burning 1000 acres east of I-45. 90% containment. 30 homes are being evacuated, 5 homes have been lost.

Colorado County Fire:
Fire has burned 3500 acres in mainly grass and shrubs. 8 homes have been lost. Fire is contained.

Caldwell County Fire:
8000 acres have burned. Fire is 85% contained.

Cass County:
30,000 acres burned. Fire is burning in heavy pine plantation. 0% contained.