Texas wildfires torch 1,000 homes


Dozens of wildfires raging in rain-starved Texas are now known to have engulfed more than 1,000 homes, say state officials.

Texas Forest Service said it was not clear if much progress had been made overnight against the biggest fire - 16 miles (26km) wide - in Bastrop County.

Firefighters hope calmer winds will help them control the blazes, which have prompted mass evacuations.

Powerful gusts from Tropical Storm Lee have been fanning the flames.

Texas has been suffering its worst drought since the 1950s.

Schools closed

Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, Texas Governor Rick Perry said more than 100,000 acres (40,470 ha) had been scorched by at least 57 wildfires in Texas over the past week.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14809156

And notice 'where' those fires are centered. Not out in west and north Texas where it's been hotter and much dryer...but in central Tecas, where the governor's Trans-Texas corridor was going to be built. Also note that if that area gets even a T.S. like Lee, there will be flash floods consisting of ashes and mud.

The ranchers and homeowners who didn't want to before, would then be very willing to sell to the 'corridor' committee. Homes and life burned down and washed away...

I live between Austin and Houston, the smell of smoke is ever present. Bastrop is about 40 miles away and the town we live closest to has set up the school gyms for evacuees. Things are the driest I have seen since I first moved here 25 years ago. Winds have settled down today but yesterday they were strong.

Stay safe, Amber

Thanks Hawthrone, some fires are getting closer, within 10 to 15 miles. Been in and out of the house setting sprinklers, don't know how much good it will do but gonna try anything.. Have gathered things that are grab and go..

Are you still safe Amber? I heard on the news today that these fires are so far only 30% contained. I hope you are well and safe. And yep, I'm with you. I would absolutely saturate everything.

Good news! It looks like one of the fires is 65% contained now!
http://www.khou.com/news/Wildfire-threa ... 68548.html

wow Amber I have been doing this in my program...you make sure you take care and get out if you need to and try and keep us dated..thank you

And now, my local news... Linden is only 12 miles southwest of me. Stay safe Amber, and don't take no unnecessary chances,...ok?

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LINDEN, Texas -- The wildfire burning through Cass and Marion counties in East Texas has grown to more than 30,000 acres and is 30 percent contained, the Texas Forest Service said Friday.

The fire has not jumped U.S. 59 -- a line where firefighters have said they will make a stand. It has jumped Texas Highway 49 in several places.

Additional firefighting resources -- including aerial tankers to drop water on the fire -- have been brought in to get control of the fire that has been burning since last weekend. Federal experts in fighting major wildfires are overseeing firefighting efforts.

Water for the aerial tankers is coming from Lake O' the Pines. The main body of the lake has been closed to boat traffic so the planes can land to refill their water tanks.

There is no rain in the forecast this coming weekend.

The fire, called the Bear Creek fire, is among dozens that have been burning in East Texas for a week. They have destroyed dozens of homes, many more outbuildings as well as vehicles. A woman and her 18-month-old daughter died Sunday when fire engulfed their home near Gladewater.

Among the fires still burning Friday morning, according to the Forest Service:

-- Peters Chapel between Karnack and Baldwin in Harrison County burned 650 acres and was 80 percent contained. Two homes were burned.

-- Farm Road 134 near Karnack burned 650 acres and two structures, the Forest Service said. It is 80 percent contained.

-- A fire near the intersection of Texas 43 and Texas 49 has burned 1,000 acres. There were no reports on its containment. Officials said 30 homes were threatened.

Folks, consider this fact...the area of Texas that's on fire and burning down would cover about 3/4 of the eastern seaboard States...that's how bad it is here.

================================================================================

Wildfire update – Sept. 10, 2011

Current situation:

· Yesterday Texas Forest Service responded to 24 new fires for 1,154 acres.

· In the past seven days Texas Forest Service has responded to 179 fires for 170,686 acres.

· 250 of the 254 Texas counties are reporting burn bans.

· Daily detailed fire information can be found here or at inciweb.org.


New large fires from yesterday (more than 100 acres in timber, 300 acres in lighter fuels; or where homes were lost):

None.


Uncontained fires from previous days (more than 100 acres in timber, 300 acres in lighter fuels):

BASTROP COUNTY COMPLEX, Bastrop County. 34,068 acres, 30 percent contained. Forward progression of the fire has stopped. Crews and equipment continue to protect homes within the perimeter. There is no fire burning outside the main containment lines. The 719-acre Union Chapel Fire is now included in this complex and is being managed by the Southern Area Type I Incident Management Team. An assessment team has confirmed 1,386 homes have been destroyed on the main fire, with 28 lost on the Union Chapel Fire. Two civilians were found dead Tuesday as search crews went through the charred subdivisions.

BEAR CREEK (#536), Cass County. 49,997 acres, 30 percent contained. The fire is burning very actively in heavy timber and is threatening numerous houses. Scoopers, heavy airtankers, and Texas Intrastate Mutual Aid Fire System engines are assisting. Twenty-four homes have been destroyed just southeast of Linden. A Type 1 Incident Management Team is assisting with management of the fire.

RILEY ROAD, Grimes/Montgomery/Waller counties. 21,269 acres, 30 percent contained. Active fire behavior was observed yesterday as the fire continued to move south. The DC-10 airtanker dropped five loads of retardant yesterday for a total of more than 67,000 gallons. Approximately 58 homes have been destroyed on this fire burning just west of Magnolia.

PEDERNALES BEND (Spicewood), Travis County. 6,500 acres, 95 percent contained. The fire is burning 4 miles southeast of Spicewood. Sixty-seven homes were destroyed.

DAM, Hill County. 523 acres, 85 percent contained. Seven homes were lost on this fire yesterday.

DELHI, Caldwell County. 6,000 acres, 90 percent contained. Twenty homes were saved and six were lost on this fire east of Lockhart.

DIANA (#545), Upshur County. 650 acres, 75 percent contained. The fire is burning in grass and timber. Twenty homes are threatened. No new information was received.

BONBIEW RANCH, Van Zandt County. 350 acres, 80 percent contained. Twenty homes were saved southeast of Canton. No new information was received.

BOOT WALKER (#553), Marion County. 1,047 acres, unknown containment. A wind shift to the south could threaten 30 homes. Access to the fire is limited.

#502, Nacogdoches and Cherokee counties. 4,000 acres, 90 percent contained. MODIS satellite shows the fire may be approximately 9,000 acres. More than a dozen homes have been evacuated, but none lost.

ARBOR, Houston County. 3,000 acres, 90 percent contained. The fire is burning in timber. Up to 15 homes are reported lost.

OLD MAGNOLIA, Gregg County. 3,341 acres, 80 percent contained. Several structures and a gas plant are threatened. No new information was received.

101 RANCH, Palo Pinto County. 6,555 acres, 85 percent contained. The fire is burning on the south side of Possum Kingdom Lake near the town of Brad. Thirty-nine homes and nine RVs have been reported destroyed. Crews continue to mop up and aircraft are monitoring.


Weather Outlook:

A surface ridge of dry high pressure will maintain a dry airmass and northerly component to the flow over much of the Lone Star state into Sunday. Among the driest locations in the state today will be near the Interstate 35 corridor, where winds should again be around 10 mph sustained for a few hours from late morning into the afternoon, with gusts up to the 15 to 20 mph range possible during that time. Relative humidities will be similar to yesterday afternoon, with minimum relative humidity below 20 percent across much of the state.

High temperatures will range in the 80s and 90s in most places, but will exceed 100 over some parts of Deep South Texas. Poor overnight recoveries will continue for areas away from the coast, especially locations west of Interstate 35. Very dry conditions will continue with north to northwesterly winds. North to northwest winds increasing to 10-15 mph with gusts of 18-25 mph will be possible across most of the East Branch except the far southeast. Afternoon humidity falls to 10-15 percent. Mostly sunny skies will prevail with afternoon highs 90-96. A late afternoon sea breeze will creep inland but likely will be limited to areas south of the Interstate 10 corridor during daylight hours. Expect poor to moderate overnight recoveries 45-55 percent in the northwest to 60-85 percent in the east and south.

http://txforestservice.tamu.edu/main/ar ... x?id=12888

It's not just 'central Texas' that's burning...it's central and east Texas that's turning into ashes...

Cappy, I thought about this very thing. It seems as though opportunity has presented itself.

I'm really glad to see you posting. TB2Ker's were concerned about you with these fires.

Cappy, there are a bunch of people on TB worried that you were affected by the fires.
Here's the thread:
http://www.timebomb2000.com/vb/showthre ... d-he-leave
I told them you were OK, I hope you don't mind. I'm sure they'd love to hear it from you, though.

Done tooken care of TygerKittn.