A late evening update from the Texas Forest Service on August 31, 2011, revealed that the 101 Ranch Fire in Palo Pinto County Texas, driven by afternoon winds racing across the drought-ravaged landscape, has now grown to 6200 acres, destroyed 39 homes, 9 RVs, and continues to threaten an additional 300 to 400 homes. The fire is 30% contained. According to an early morning update on September 1, 2011, firefighters were able to make some progress on improving lines overnight.
The most severe damage has been in the Cliffs Resort neighborhood in the southern area of Possum Kingdom where wildfires burned 160 homes and 127,000 acres in three counties in April of 2011. The ongoing drought, strong winds, and recent lightning may be the cause of the current fire.
Mandatory Evacuations
According to an interview earlier in the day with April Saginor, Communications Specialist with the Texas Forest Service, the 101 Ranch Fire in Palo Pinto County is located off Highway 16 near the town of Brad, Texas, which is west of Fort Worth. In addition to the earlier evacuation of The Cliffs subdivision, Saginor said there were mandatory evacuations for the Ranch and Harbor subdivisions. The Peninsula subdivision was evacuated a short time later along with 90 students from the YMCA Camp Grady Spruce.
There are 36 volunteer fire departments currently responding to this fire, including firefighters from Palo Pinto, Jack, and Young counties. The Texas Forest Service, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Texas Division of Emergency Management, and other volunteers and paid personnel from within Texas and around the country are also working on the fire.
There are three task forces assigned to the Palo Pinto fire with at least 20 firefighters each. They have nine bulldozers and six engines, five single engine air tankers, two heavy helicopters and two air attack aircraft flying over to assess the need for additional resources. In addition, there are three strike teams of Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System engines on order. Some news reports are stating that one of the jet tanker air crafts, desperately needed to assist in the fire, did not arrive.
Current Texas Wildfire Update Including Wise and Walker Counties
According to the Texas Forest Service, the State of Texas is "fighting its worst fire season in the state's history." Since the fire season began in November of 2010, firefighters have responded to 20,155 fires that have burned 3,529,261 acres. This number is certain to rise as these various late-August fires continue to grow, spurred on by the drought-parched fuels and autumn winds.
An August 31, 2011 update made at 9:30 p.m. on the Texas Forest Service InciWeb states that the Hornets Tank Fire in Briscoe County, first reported to the Texas Forest Service on August 31, 2011, has now grown to 3000 acres. It is 40% contained.
The 3457 Road Fire in Wise County has doubled in size. The 200 acre blaze now threatens 20 homes. This fire was reported on August 31, 2011 around 2 p.m. to the Texas Forest Service. Since that time, two homes were lost along with several outbuildings and between 50 and 60 homes were evacuated.
In Walker County, the Crab Prairie Fire, reported at 1:43 p.m. on August 31, 2011, has grown to 400 acres and burned two homes. Ten more homes and ten structures are currently threatened by this fire.
The Howard County Legacy Fire, south of I-20, which started on August 30, 2011, is 10% contained, but it has already burned 4319 acres.
In Coryell County, the Horseshoe Bend Fire is 40% contained. It has burned 524 acres and four homes. The fire continues to threaten 12 homes, and an additional 30 homes were evacuated. The Jack Mountain Fire, which started on August 30, 2011, is 15% contained and has burned 1700 acres. The Coryell Complex fire, which consists of 11 separate grass fires, has burned 1600 acres and threatens 10 homes. This fires started on August 28, 2011 and is only 30% contained.
The Kimble County Big Draw Fire, which also started on August 30, has jumped the river and now threatens 20 homes. The fire has burned 450 acres and is 20% contained.
Sutton County's Rick Ranch Fire is 30% contained, but the fire has already consumed 600 acres.
In Edwards County, the Jackson Ranch Fire, also known as the Johnson Ranch Fire, which started on August 30, 2011, has now burned 650 acres and 3 homes. The fire continues to threaten an additional 12 homes. Between 15 and 20 homes were evacuated. The Jackson Ranch Fire is 60% contained. The Bundy Ross Fire in Edwards County, also started on August 30, 2011. The Bundy Ross Fire has burned 320 acres, but it is 70% contained.
In Parker County Texas, the Pine Road Fire, which started on August 30, 2011, has burned 75 acres and is 50% contained, but it continues to threaten 4 homes.
Of the 254 counties in the State of Texas, 251 are currently reporting burn bans.
(This article was updated on September 1, 2011, at 10:40 a.m.)
Darla Sue Dollman - Darla Sue Dollman, BA, MFA, has expertise in classic films, the Old West, boating, and animals.
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