Wildfires Destroy 23 Homes in Central Texas

[southerngale]

I saw some video on Fox News and heard an emergency management official talking. He said it hasn't been this dry in Texas (parts of it, obviously) since 1918! Whoa.

Wildfires Destroy 23 Homes in Central Texas
Sunday, March 01, 2009


BASTROP, Texas — A wildfire fueled by grass, brush and trees has destroyed at least 23 homes and three businesses in central Texas.

Officials say two National Guard helicopters joined other aircraft Sunday in dropping water on the blaze near the towns of Bastrop and Smithville.

Gov. Rick Perry has activated state resources, including four Blackhawk helicopters equipped to drop water and fire retardant, firefighters and equipment.

The wildfire has charred just over a square mile since it was started Saturday by a fallen power line.

Texas Forest Service spokesman Lewis Kearney says the fire is about 50 percent contained.

He says some residents who were evacuated during the night were being escorted back into the area Sunday to identify their property.

Bastrop is about 30 miles southeast of Austin.

[HurricaneBill]

In March 2006, 12 people were killed in wildfires known as the East Amarillo Complex. It consisted of two fires that had merged. The fires had started after power lines had been blown down in high winds and ignited. The fires burnt over 900,000 acres.

[cctxhurricanewatcher]

I saw this on the news last night and I thought it was a story about the typical California wildfires unitl the graphic on the screen said Bastrop, Texas!!

If I lived in the hills in West Austin or San Antonio and anywhere in the Hill Country, I'd be nervous as a cat walking into a room full or rocking chairs. We could very well see wide spread wildfire action if we don't get a good drink from the clouds in the next few weeks. These Pacific cool fronts that come in regularly in March and April will be just enough to lower the humidity to be favorable for fires. Add in the winds.........

[Portastorm]

My fellow Austin poster -- Shoshana -- and I have been trying to tell everyone that around here. The drought here is entering nightmarish proportions. No exaggerations.

I've lived here since 1984 and it is easily the worst drought/fire danger conditions I have seen.

The Bastrop county fire was caused by downed power lines and high winds. March is tourist season around here with all the state sports tournaments and South by Southwest. All it is going to take is one knucklehead flicking a lit cigarette out a car window ... then BOOM!

[Shoshana]

It's very unnerving.

I have never lived anywhere this tinder dry in my life.

Last summer was the first summer we watered the whole season (actually till October or so).

The rest of Texas was affected by one of the tropical systems that came thru - but every single one of them missed Central Texas.

[Shoshana]

from KVUE.com

Fire warning in Texas extended through Saturday

06:16 AM CST on Friday, March 6, 2009

Associated Press

More unseasonably warm weather was expected in Texas on Friday with highs mostly in the 80s, according to the National Weather Service.

The warm weather continues as fire crews fight a brush fire in Bastrop County that has been burning since Saturday. As of Thursday evening, the fire, which has scorched 1,491 acres between Bastrop and Smithville, was 90 percent contained, according to the Texas Forest Service. Firefighters continued to make progress against the blaze, by shoring up lines and putting out hot spots.