According to a 4 p.m. update from the Texas Forest Service on September 6, 2011, the west flank of the Bastrop County Complex Fire is now burning within two miles of the city limits 30 miles southeast of Austin. The Bastrop Complex Fire has scorched at least 30,000 acres and destroyed an estimated 600 homes with no containment. The fire is currently adjacent to, and threatening, a power plant near Hwy 21. More than 5000 residents have been evacuated.
A second fire near Bastrop that started on September 5, 2011, the Union Chapel Fire near the Cedar Creek area, has grown to 1000 acres and crossed Hwy 21. The Union Chapel Fire destroyed 25 homes and continues to threaten 150 homes. Evacuations are ongoing for both fires as they continue to spread out of control.
Residents in some areas--east of Hwy 95 to Elgin and east of Hwy 304 to Delhi--are also advised to boil their water because microbes may be in the system due to the wildfires.
Although the Bastrop Complex Fire started on September 4, firefighters were unable to get helicopter assistance from Star Flight until September 6 because all three helicopters were working other fires in Travis County. In the past three days, Star Flight operators have made 500 water drops in Steiner, Pflugerville, and Perdenales. However, firefighters now have 47 engines and 47 dozers working the the fire, in addition to helicopters and planes.
According to Mike Fischer, the Emergency Management Coordinator on the Bastrop Complex Fire, "On day one we were stretched completely beyond our imagination, we now have resources coming in from all over the nation."
The Bastrop Complex Fire is burning under a 4100 KW powerline, according to the Texas Forest Service. During a wildfire briefing held earlier in the morning at the St. Luke's on the Lake Episcopal Church in Northwest Austin, Bastrop residents learned that 4300 power meters were already out, but power lines running through fire zones cannot operate safely, so even residents outside of the fire zone will be without power depending on where the fire travels.
The Texas Attorney General, Greg Abbott, also spoke at this morning's wildfire briefing in North Austin. "We must not get complacent," he warned residents when speaking of the cool, morning weather. "The conditions for any fire remain intact," he said, and warned residents to continue to take great care when cooking or working outside.
Abbott also stressed the importance for residents of Texas to establish a family wildfire communication and evacuation plan. "In a wildfire evacuation you'll have 10 minutes to secure the most valuable things you own and get them out of your home," he said.
Abbott mentioned that FEMA would be on hand later in the day and warned that any businesses suspected of taking advantage of residents in the wildfire areas in any way, including price gauging for essential supplies, would be subjected to stiff penalties. There are also law enforcement officers from around the state continuing to arrive and currently in place to protect the homes against looting. "This is a time when we, as Texans, need to step up and take care of each other to help fellow texas in our time of need."
Governor Rick Perry Returns to Texas
In the early morning hours of September 6, 2011, Texas Governor Rick Perry surveyed, through an aerial view, the charred remains of homes ravaged by wildfires in the Steiner Ranch subdivision. Perry, who is campaigning for the Republican presidential nomination, cut his visit to South Carolina short so he could return home to Texas. Perry stated he believed the politics should wait because the lives and possessions of the people of Texas are a more important issue at this time. He also said that FEMA aid should arrive today.
Perry referred to the Steiner Ranch Fire as "mean looking." He later told the press that he had seen many large wildfires in his lifetime, but, "the magnitude of these losses are pretty stunning."
Perry said the wildfires in Central Texas over the past few days had already burned enough acreage to equal the size of the state of Connecticut including "over 1000 homes lost across the state, and over 100,000 acres in new fires."
Steiner Ranch and Pedernales Bend Fires
Governor Perry viewed the Steiner Ranch Fire this morning, which is a prime example of wildfires burning small amounts of acreage that still cause serious damage. The Steiner Ranch Fire, which started north of the Steiner Ranch subdivision on the afternoon of September 4, 2011, has burned 125 acres. It is currently 40 percent contained. However, more than 35 homes were destroyed in this fire and 1000 homes were evacuated. A Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System strike team has now responded to this fire.
Texas Senator Kirk Watson, who also toured the Steiner Ranch area today, urged people to stay away from the area to keep the travel routes clear for firefighters and stressed that there is still concern that the fires may flare up again.
The Pedernales Bend Fire continues to burn out of control in the rolling hills of Travis County four miles southest of Spicewood. This fire has burned 6500 acres and 67 homes. The fire jumped the Pedernales River and is moving south. The smoke can be seen for miles, sometimes moving so close to the smoke plumes from the Bastrop Complex Fire that it is difficult to determine where the smoke is coming from.
The smoke plumes in Central Texas are so huge that the Texas Forest Service is tracking these fires from space via satellites. The USDS Forest Service website has a map listing the larger fires on their website. Weather Underground also has a fire map available.
Montgomery, Grime Counties and Other Fires
The new fires are not restricted to Central Texas. The Riley Road Fire in Grimes County has burned 3000 acres with unknown containment and extreme fire behavior as it moves to the south, just west of Magnolia. This wildfire has already destroyed 20 homes, immediately threatens 150 more homes that were previously evacuated and has hundreds more in its path.
In Montgomery County, the Tamina Road fire has burned 150 acres with unknown containment. Two hundred homes were evacuated in the heavily wooded area known as The Woodlands late last night. There is an additional 400 homes within 1/4 mile of the wildfire's path.
A fast-moving fire in Harrison County, the Peters Chapel Fire, has burned 600 acres with unknown containment in pine plantation fuels. Although numerous evacuations were reported, there has been no report of losses.
In Walker Country, the #854 fire has burned 200 acres with unknown containment. Five homes were destroyed in this fire and 30 homes were evacuated.
The Leander Fire, also called the Moonglow Fire, in Williamson County, has burned 300 acres with no containment. At last report, 13 homes were lost and 150 homes immediately threatened.
As reported yesterday, two lives were lost in the Moore Fire in Smith County, which is burning on the Smith'/Gregg County Line. The fire has consumed 1300 acres and burned five homes. Although it continues to threaten 10 more homes, it is now believed to be 90% contained.
The #552 Fire in Upshur County has burned 200 acres of timber fuel with no containment. This fire has burned three homes and continues to threaten dozens more. A previous fire in Upshur County, The Diana Fire #545, has burned 750 acres in grass and timber with no containment and continues to threaten 20 homes.
A much larger fire in Anderson County, the #507 Fire, has burned 1200 acres with unknown containment reported. Also in Anderson County, the #504 Fire, has burned 800 acres with unknown containment. The Henderson #495 Fire in Anderson County has burned 3700 acres with unknown containment. Firefighters were able to save three homes in the #495 Fire.
The #505 Fire in Rusk County has burned 400 acres with unknown containment and the Kennedy Road Fire in Rusk County has burned 150 acres with unknown containment. This fire has already destroyed one home and threatens numerous others.
In Cass County, the Bear Creek #536 Fire has burned 7000 acres in heavy timber with no containment. This fire is threatening a gas facility.
In Limestone County, 20 miles east of Waco, the #491 Fire has burned 3000 acres and one home with unknown containment. Six homes were saved from the wildfire.
Texas Volunteer Firefighters
According to the Texas Forest Service InciWeb, as of September 4, 2011, there were 63 new fires burning on 32,936 acres and dozens more flare up each day. 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.
There are 1400 fire departments in the State of Texas. The volunteer firefighters in these departments pay for their own gear, equipment, and repairs. The most effective way to help the local volunteer firefighters is to donate to the Wildfire Firefighters Fund, To help the residents of Texas, the most effective method is believed to be donating to the Central Texas Red Cross as they know where the help is needed.
Darla Sue Dollman - Darla Sue Dollman, BA, MFA, has expertise in classic films, the Old West, boating, and animals.
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