A fierce, wind-driven fire is raging through drought-parched, tall grass fuels in the Texas Panhandle powered by 30 mph winds with 40 mph wind gusts. The Litts Fire, which started at 4:45 pm on October 7, 2011, is 14 miles NW of Miami, Texas. The fire is currently showing extreme fire behavior due to the weather conditions.
According to Texas Forest Service Information Officer Bill Paxton, firefighters are currently en route to the fire. "This is a new fire, so they're just getting started," Paxton said. "We do have hopes that it won't last long, though. We are expecting rain tonight and we're hoping the rains will knock the fire down."
The National Weather Service predicted a 100% chance of rain for the area tonight, but also issued a tornado watch and flash flood watch until 2 am for the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles. The rain will come in the form of severe thunderstorms with even more dangerous winds and large hail.
Old Potato Road Fire
The Old Potato Road Fire, four miles northeast of Camp Swift Texas, is now 75% contained according to the Texas Forest Service. The fire is burning in heavy timber fuels of oak, pine, and brush. It is also burning in difficult terrain and has medium growth potential as a cold front with gusty winds move into the area.
The Old Potato Road fire started on October 4, 2011 at 1:45 p.m. with a break in the fire containment line around the Bastrop County Complex Fire, which explains its close proximity to the older fire.
According to the Texas Forest Service, the size of the fire was reduced to 310 acres using global positioning system technology after the smoke cleared and a more accurate assessment could be made.
Bastrop County Complex Fire
According to the Texas Forest Service, the Bastrop County Complex Fire is still burning with creeping and smoldering activity on 10 and 100 hour fuels and occasional flare-ups in reburned and unburned islands.
The Bastrop County Complex Fire started on September 4, 2011 east of Bastrop. The fires started over the Labor Day weekend when strong winds from Tropical Storm Lee powered numerous wildfires in Central Texas. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but is believed to be sparks from electrical power lines falling on dead leaves, drought-parched grasses and trees knocked down by the 30 mph winds.
The Bastrop County Complex Fire burned across 34,068 acres of land. A total of 1669 homes and 41 commercial buildings were lost in the fires, as well as the lives of two residents. The fire also burned through 16,200 acres of pine and deciduous forest trees. It is believed to be the most destructive wildfire in Texas state history and is still only 95% contained.
New Fires
Firefighters with the Southeast Texas Fire Complex responded to six new fire start-ups on October 6, 2011. The fires are burning on 186 acres in Bowie, Lamar, Grimes, Titus, Polk and Houston counties. In West Texas, firefighters responded to seven new fires burning on 196 acres.
In the past seven days, the Texas Forest Service responded to 92 fires on 2391 acres. Within the state of Texas, 251 of the 254 counties are currently reporting burn bans.
Assisting Texas Volunteer Fire Departments and Wildfire Survivors
The Texas Volunteer Fire Departments are the first responders to Texas wildfires. There are 1400 fire departments in the State of Texas and most volunteer firefighters purchase their own gear, equipment, and equipment repairs. Texans can support their local firefighters by donating to the Texas Wildfire Relief Fund or by participating in local fund drives, such as the boot drives and benefit meals.
The Central Texas Red Cross accepts donations to assist survivors of the Texas wildfires.
Darla Sue Dollman - Darla Sue Dollman, BA, MFA, has expertise in classic films, the Old West, boating, and animals.
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