As wildfires continue to rage across the parched hills of Central Texas, the news coming from the Bastrop Complex Fire on the morning of September 8, 2011, was enough to send local residents on an emotional roller coaster.
The Texas Forest Service announced firefighters achieved 30% containment on the Bastrop County Complex Fire. The Bastrop County Complex Fire, which started in the Lost Pines area on Sunday, September 4, 2011, was previously burning across 34,068 acres. Although it is 30% contained, it continues to burn intensely and out of control on more than 20,000 acres. Firefighters are using heavy airtankers, helicopters, and single-engine airtankers on the fire. A Southern Area Type I Incident Management Team is also assisting in managing the fire.
As area residents desperately searched through lists for information on their homes, the Texas Forest Service also updated the number of homes lost to the fire: 1386, almost twice as much as previous estimates--on September 7, 2011, the number of homes lost was believed to be 785 homes. Bastrop County published partial lists of destroyed structures including only those homes that could be identified. According to the Texas Forest Service, an additional 240 homes were lost in Central Texas since September 4, 2011, for a total of 1626 homes lost in this latest wildfire outbreak.
The Bastrop Complex Fire has also claimed the lives of two residents. One of the victims was identified as 48 yr old Michael Troy Farr, who was found in his home in Smithville, Texas. The other victim, who was not found at the same location, has not been identified.
The Union Chapel Fire in Bastrop County burned 912 acres and 25 homes before firefighters were able to reach 90% containment. According to the Texas Forest Service, air support responded almost immediately to the Union Chapel Fire, but they were unable to assist due to the windy conditions.
Assistance from Every State in the Country
According to Melissa Yunas, Information Officer with the Texas Forest Service, the Texas firefighters are receiving assistance from every state in the country.
"We currently have manpower from every state, from Alaska, Florida, Oregon, specializing in firefighting or incident management systems," Yunas said. "We are also receiving other resources from across the country. Some states are sending water tankers, engines, and bulldozers. We are contracting for additional helicopters and airtankers."
Bear Creek Fire in Cass County
The assistance is gratefully accepted and desperately needed as new fires continue to flare up across the State of Texas. According to Melissa Yunas, the Texas Forest Service is also greatly concerned about the Bear Creek Fire (#536), which started on September 7, 2011 in Cass County.
The fire has burned 25,000 acres, eight homes, and continues to threaten numerous houses with unknown containment in heavy timber. Firefighters are using aviation resources as well as ground crews on the Bear Creek Fire, and Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System engines are also assisting. A Type 1 Incident Management Team should arrive on September 8, 2011, to assist with management of the fire.
Suspected Arsonist in Custody on Halsboro Fire
Red River County has arrested a man on suspicion of arson in connection with the Halsboro Complex Fire, which started on September 6, 2011. The Halsboro Complex Fire is a 958 acre combination of three grass fires with unknown containment currently threatening 15 homes.
Current Situation Report on Texas Wildfires
Another new fire started in Red River County yesterday. The Clarksville Fire near Clarksville burned through 350 acres of timber and grass destroying two homes, though it is now 90% contained.
In fact, on September 7, 2011, the Texas Forest Service responded to 20 new fires burning on 1422 acres, including the Kennedy Road Fire in Rusk County, which has burned 150 acres and one home and continues to threaten numerous homes with unknown containment, and the Smith County Fire (#526) that burned 450 acres with unknown containment. In the past seven days, the Texas Forest Service has responded to 176 fires burning on 126,844 acres.
According to Melissa Yunas, the Riley Road fire burning west of Magnolia in Grimes, Montgomery and Waller counties has burned 11,000 acres and 75 homes. The Riley Road Fire is 60% contained.
Although she acknowledged that the increased numbers is not the best of news, Yunas also said, "Anytime a fire moves closer to 100% containment, it's getting better."
Yunas also referred to the change in the weather conditions and how this may have contributed to progress made on the Riley Road Fire. "We are not having the same problems with the wind at this time," she said. "If we have another cold front move through and the winds increase, this could be a great concern for this fire."
The Tamina Road fire in Montgomery County burned 150 acres with unknown containment. Although hundreds of homes were evacuated on September 5, 2011, the day the fire started, no homes were reported lost. "This fire currently has a minimum crew," Yunas said, "simply because there are larger fires nearby that need assistance."
The Boot Walker Fire (#553) in Marion County also started in the morning hours of September 5, 2011. "This fire just keeps growing," Yunas said. The Boot Walker Fire is currently burning on 2000 acres and threatens 30 homes.
Another fire causing a tremendous amount of concern, the Pedernales Bend Fire four miles southeast of Spicewood in Travis County, burned 6500 acres and destroyed 67 homes. The Pedernales Bend fire is now 80% contained.
In Gregg County, the White Oak Road Fire burned 300 acres in pine and hardwood fuels before firefighters reached 80% containment.
In Harrison County, the Peters Chapel Fire is actively burning in pine plantation fuels on 650 acres, though firefighters believe they have reached 80% contained. Two homes were destroyed in the Peters Chapel Fire and numerous homes were evacuated. The Lansing Switch Road (#538) is also burning in Harrison County in pine and hardwood fuels. This fire is 50% contained on 200 acres.
The Limestone County (#491) Fire east of Waco is now 95% contained. This fire burned 3000 acres and destroyed one home.
The Delhi Fire in Caldwell County east of Lockhart has now burned 6000 acres and destroyed six homes. It is 85% contained.
In Colorado County, the Bailey Fire has burned 2300 acres. Although the fire is now 90% contained, the fast-moving fire already destroyed ten homes and threatens 20 more near Columbus.
According to Melissa Yunas of the Texas Forest Service, the Toad Road Fire (#552) in Upshur County has now burned 1700. The fire started on September 5, 2011 and is burning in timber fuels. The fire destroyed three homes and continues to threaten dozens more with unknown containment.
The Diana Fire (#545), which is also in Upshur County, has burned 2500 acres in timber fuels. Three homes were lost and dozens remain threatened in this fire, though firefighters are believed to have reached 70% containment.
The Lutherhill Fire in Fayette County caused the evacuation of the community of Ruttersville as it burned across 2700 acres and destroyed 14 homes. It is now believed to be 95% contained.
The Boot Walker Fire (#553), which started in Marion County in the early morning hours of September 5, 2011, burned 1000 acres with unknown containment and continues to threaten 30 homes.
Two separate fires in Anderson County, the #507 and #504, continue to burn with unknown containment. The #507 has burned 1400 acres and the #504 has burned 800 acres.
The Nacogdoches County Fire (#502) has burned 4000 acres. More than a dozen homes were evacuated in this fire that has unknown containment.
Two large fires previously creating a great deal of concern for the Texas Forest Service are now partially contained. The Steiner Ranch fire in Travis County burned 125 acres and destroyed 35 homes. An additional 1000 homes were threatened and evacuated. The fires are now 50% contained.
The 101 Ranch Fire in Palo Pinto County is burning on the south side of Possum Kingdom Lake near the town of Brad on 6,555 acres and is 85% contained. Thirty-nine homes and nine RVs were destroyed in this wildfire, which started on August 30, 2011. This same area was also ravaged by fires in April of 2011 burning 160 homes and 127,000 acres in three counties.
There are currently burn bans in place for 251 of the 254 counties in the State of Texas.
Bastrop County Fire Map, Wunderground and Texas Wildfire Maps
Bastrop County has posted a wildfire map on their website. The USDS Forest Service website has a map listing the larger fires on their website. Weather Underground also has a fire map available.
Texas Volunteer Firefighters
In the State of 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 according to Chris Barron, Executive Director of the State Fireman's and Fire Marshall's Association, and the volunteer firefighters in these departments pay for their own gear, equipment, and repairs.
Four of the big 12 football team coaches --Mike Sherman, Mack Brown, Tommy Tuberville, and Art Briles--recently recorded a public service announcement for volunteer fire departments in Texas. Actor Kyle Chandler from the television series Friday Night Lights also volunteered for numerous public service announcements urging Texans to join their local volunteer fire departments and donate to the wildfire firefighters fund.
Helping Texas Wildfire Victims
Within the State of Texas, FOX 7 News in Austin, Clear Channel Austin Radio, Sonic Drive-In Restaurants and the Capital Area Food Bank are making a combined effort to help the victims of the Central Texas fires by accepting donations of food and other items at all Sonic Drive-In Restaurants and delivering the food to families displaced by the wildfires.
Through September 23, 2011, Texas residents can donate non-perishable food at any Sonic Drive-In location. The list of items that can be donated includes bottled water; Gatorade; ready-to-eat meals preferably with pull up or pop tops; single serving snacks such as protein or granola bars; diapers; and baby formula. The Sonic Drive-In employees will even come out to the vehicle to pick up the donated items.
For those who live outside of Texas, the Central Texas Red Cross is also taking donations.
(This article was updated at 4 p.m. on September 8, 2011.)
Darla Sue Dollman - Darla Sue Dollman, BA, MFA, has expertise in classic films, the Old West, boating, and animals.
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