Wildfires throughout Central Texas are burning with unequaled ferocity and no containment. According to Justice Jones, Information Officer for the Texas Forest Service, "We had more fires last night than resources available. The wildfires in Central Texas have challenged all of our resources."
The situation is so dire that Jones is recommending residents in Central Texas prepare for evacuation by packing a bag of clothing, important documents, medications, and other necessities.
"Be prepared to leave," he said. "Keep your eyes on the sky. If you see smoke, ash, or feel the slightest bit uncomfortable with your situation, it's time to evacuate. There is no risk worth taking right now."
The winds from Tropical Storm Lee have created unprecedented wildfire conditions in Central Texas as they move down from the north, northeast, and east, across the drought-parched landscape.
"What we're seeing now in the State of Texas is unprecedented fire behavior," Jones said. "No firefighter, no matter how long they've been with the forest service, has ever seen the likes of this before. I know that sounds pretty scary, but it’s true."
"I doubt that anyone on the face of this earth has ever fought fires in these extreme conditions," Jones continued. "And the current weather conditions with strong, dry gusts of wind, will continue at least through Wednesday."
Jones pointed out that the combination of wind and drought on a holiday weekend is both a blessing and a curse. "Most of the volunteer firefighters are home right now since they're not working on the holiday weekend," he said. "This means they can respond faster to fire calls."
"Unfortunately, this also means there are more people outdoors enjoying family gatherings, parking on grass and using barbecue grills with the potential for creating sparks," Jones said. It only takes one small spark to cause a wildfire, and the Texas Forest Service is asking Central Texas residents to avoid this type of outdoor activity until the winds die down.
Jones also cautions residents to be wary of signs of smoke. "If you see smoke, it's time to evacuate," he said. "If you see smoke on the road, it's the same as the Texas saying, 'turn around and don't drown.' Turn around and do not drive into the smoke. You have no way of knowing if it's blowing smoke on the road or if you're driving into a wall of fire."
Wildfires Continues to Rage in Bastrop, Texas
According to Justice Jones, as of 12 p.m. on September 5, 2011, the Bastrop Complex Fire has burned over 25,000 acres. "We won't be able to get an accurate assessment of that fire until we are able to get containment lines around it," Jones said, and they are unable to build containment lines because they are still battling fierce winds. "I'm making this assessment from satellite imagery," Jones explained. "It's a huge, catastrophic wildfire with the potential to burn many more homes."
A Type 1 incident management team has been requested to assist with the Bastrop County Complex, which means more team members to focus on organization, enabling the firefighters to focus on the fire. The Bastrop Complex Fire has already destroyed 300 homes and jumped highway 95. Firefighters are using heavy airtankers and single-engine airtankers to fight the fire.
According to the Texas Forest Service, the fire has "moved unchecked for at least 16 miles to the south and has jumped the Colorado River twice."
Evacuations have taken place at the Pine Forest, Circle D, K.C. Estates, Colovista, and Tahitian Village subdivisions. Firefighters are trying to hold the fire at FM2571, but there doesn't seem to be a chance of stopping it until the winds die down and critical weather conditions are at their peak in the late afternoon.
Central Texas Wildfires With Unknown or No Containment
Justice Jones also said the dangers of a fire should not be judged simply by its large size. "Look at Steiner Ranch," he said. "They've lost 25 homes, 1000 more were evacuated, and the fire [only burned] 150 acres. It doesn't take a big fire to cause a big loss, so be careful!"
The Texas Forest Service reports that the Steiner Ranch Fire at the Steiner Ranch subdivision in Travis County has not been contained to any extent, but a Texas Interstate Fire Mutual Aid System strike team has responded to the fire. The Texas Forest Service has dozens of aircraft working these fires, including four heavy airtankers, 15 single-engine airtankers, 12 helicopters, and 13 aerial supervision aircraft.
The #839 Fire in Leon County is another example of a small fire with big losses. The fire burned 100 acres and at least 15 homes and has unknown containment. More than 300 residents were evacuated from the area.
The Moore Fire in Smith County burned five homes, 927 acres, and is at 5% contained. Ten homes were evacuated and five were destroyed. This fire is burning on the Smith/Gregg County Line and caused two fatalities when a young mother and her child were unable to leave their home.
Another fire in Gregg County, the Old Magnolia Fire, has burned 100 acres with unknown containment. No homes are reported to be threatened, but two fuel tanks exploded.
The Pedernales Bend Fire, four miles southwest of Spicewood, also in Travis County, burned 7000 acres and 20 homes. It has also damaged 30 homes. It is unknown if there is any containment.
Another large fire is burning in Henderson County. The Henderson #495 Fire has consumed 5000 acres with unknown containment. Firefighters saved three homes on this fire.
The #491 Fire, 20 miles west of Waco in Limestone County burned 3000 acres and one home at last assessment, and with no containment.
East of Lockhard in Caldwell County, the Delhi fire is 10% contained after burning 1000 acres and six homes.
The swift-moving Bailey Fire in Colorado County burned 1,000 acres at last count and has unknown containment, though firefighters are receiving assistance from Blackhawks, single-engine airtankers and a heavy airtanker.
In Fayette County, the Lutherhill Fire burned 2,000 acres and seven homes with unknown containment. The entire community of Ruttersville was evacuated.
Evacuations are taking place in Nacogdoches County at the #502 Fire. The fire has burned 200 acres with unknown containment.
The #841 Fire east of Crockett in Houston County has also burned 200 acres with unknown containment. Fifteen homes are currently threatened by this fire.
Numerous homes were threatened in Rusk County and one lost at the Kennedy Road Fire, which has burned 150 acres with unknown containment.
It is difficult to obtain an accurate assessment on these fires because firefighters are still struggling for even the smallest amount of containment. According to the Texas Forest Service, Central Texas is currently battling 63 new fires, in addition to the fires that broke out the last few days of August. In fact, according to the Texas Forest Service InciWeb, in the past seven days, the Texas Forest Service responded alongside local firefighters on 178 fires burning across 74,156 acres. They saved 2,515 homes, but lost 408 homes and 39 other structures
The Big Draw Fire in Kimble County, which started in the last days of August, has now burned 600 acres. It is 20 percent contained. Unfortunately, the fire continues to show active fire behavior with heavy fuels and steep terrain and is threatening twenty homes.
The Jack Mountain Fire on the Fort Hood military Reservation five miles south of Gatesville in Coryell County also started last week. It is now 60% contained after burning 1700 acres.
The Ranch 101 Fire in Palo Pinto County is 75% contained after burning 7252 acres, according to Tom Berglund, Public Information Officer for the Texas Forest Service Lone Star Incident Management Team, so hopefully some of the resources currently battling that fire can move south into Central Texas.
Texas Volunteer Fire Departments
At one point, early in the afternoon of September 4, 2011, the City of Austin requested 25 firefighters to call in for re-activation to assist with the fires. In Texas, local volunteer fire departments respond first and generally call on the Texas Forest Service when the fires burn over 100 acres or grow beyond their control. Justice Jones of the Texas Forest Service refers to the local volunteer firefighters as "real heroes."
According to Chris Barron, Executive Director of the State Fireman's and Fire Marshal's Association, there are 1400 fire departments in the State of Texas. In the past seven days, the local volunteer fire departments fought 127 fires on 2571 acres. They saved 145 homes.
However, the Texas Volunteer Fire Departments continue to struggle with a lack of funding and volunteers. Friday Night Lights star Kyle Chandler recently recorded several public service announcements urging Texans to volunteer at their local fire departments and donate to the Wildfire Firefighters Fund, and four of the big 12 football team coaches--Mike Sherman, Mack Brown, Tommy Tuberville, and Art Briles--also recorded a public service announcement urging Texans to support their local volunteer fire departments.
Darla Sue Dollman - Darla Sue Dollman, BA, MFA, has expertise in classic films, the Old West, boating, and animals.
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