Wildfires broke out in multiple areas of drought-stricken Central Texas this afternoon, as a combination of two weather systems, the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee to the east and a cold front moving in created hot, extremely dry and windy conditions. Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for parts of Bastrop County, and Travis County.
Dry, hot, windy weather combined with exceptional drought that has turned vegetation to kindling is fueling catastrophic wildfires in Central Texas today. The largest fire in Texas is in Bastrop County, where 14,000 acres have burned in Bastrop State Park. The fire extends 16 miles long and 4 miles wide, and has destroyed 300 homes. Bastrop State Park is known for its beautiful pine trees, and historic Depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps structures, and it is an area where my husband and I have backpacked on several occasions. Texas Storm Chasers reports that 30 fire departments on scene and mutual aid requested from the entire state of TX. Heavy air support is dropping both water and fire retardant. Numerous roads are closed including Highway 21 and Highway 71.
Fires are also burning in Travis County, where friends texted us to say they are safe, but their beautiful home on the Pedernales River, near Spicewood has burned. In another fire in Travis County, the Steiner Ranch Fire, 4,000 homes threatened, 25 homes lost. Fire continues to burn in heavy brush and Cedar trees in NW Travis County near Lake Travis, and a 200 acre fire is burning in Pflugerville, north of Austin. There are also fires burning in North and East Texas. There is a map showing the locations of the fires on Weatherunderground.
Tonight, along with our neighbors, we are following the updates from Bastrop County Emergency Management closely. It looks like we are not in the path of the fire, which seems to be moving east of us, but anyone downwind of this or other dangerous fires should be prepared to evacuate on short notice. Looks like we won't get much sleep tonight.
8:02 AM PT: The Bastrop fire has now burned 17,000 acres and destroyed 400 homes. We are still waiting for updates from a briefing in progress at Bastrop County Emergency Managment.
9:08 AM PT: The Bastrop Count Emergency Managment briefing just finished. The fire is currently burning in the Hill's Prairie area, which is about 5-10 miles east of us, and if the winds continue from the northwest, we should be out of the path of the fire. The authorities don't expect to get control until the winds subside tonight. There are so many fires in Texas right now that there aren't any firefighters or equipment left to send out.
11:34 AM PT: At 9 AM, the Texas Forest Service estimated the Bastrop Fire Complex to be at 25,000 Acres, and there are new fires - the Wyldwood fire is west of Bastrop .
11:35 AM PT: At 9 AM, the Texas Forest Service estimated the Bastrop Fire Complex to be at 25,000 Acres, and there are new fires - the Wyldwood fire is west of Bastrop . There are new evacuations in Western Bastrop County.
4:31 PM PT: The Bastrop fire is now 16 miles long and has burned 25,000 acres and destroyed 476 homes. We are seeing smoke to the east, south, and west of our house. A second fire in Bastrop County, the Union Chapel Fire , has burned 750 acres and some homes near the new high school.