Catastrophic fires burn thousands of acres, force evacuations across Central Texas

[Dover]

Source: American Statesman

A very strong, cool norther blew into Texas yesterday finally bringing relief from scorching all time record triple digit temps. But it did not bring desperately needed rain and the entire state is a tinder box waiting to ignite. Well it ignited in a big way in Central Texas yesterday in and around Austin, destroying HUNDREDS of homes (at least 400 in the county of Bastrop alone), with fires still completely out of control in many areas. Evacuations are extensive. Here's the story:
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In a summer where brush fires have become a near-daily occurrence, firefighting officials said the multiple wildfires that raged across Central Texas on Sunday were the worst the region has seen all year.

Numerous wind-driven fires pushed fire departments to their limits and forced evacuations in Bastrop County, the Steiner Ranch subdivision, Pflugerville, Spicewood and other areas. Scores of residents were left wondering whether they had homes to return to as many of the fires continued to burn Sunday night.

The largest and most destructive fire was in Bastrop County, where a blaze burned 14,000 acres and grew to an estimated 16 miles long by the end of the day, said Mark Stanford, fire chief of the Texas Forest Service.

"It's catastrophic," Stanford said of the Bastrop County fire. "It's a major natural disaster."

Forest Service spokeswoman Lexi Maxwell said that fire began about 2 p.m. in the Circle D subdivision off Texas 71. It merged with another fire north of there that pushed south and crossed over Texas 21 and Texas 71, Maxwell said. Aerial units estimated that at least 300 homes had been damaged or destroyed by the fire...





Read more: http://www.statesman.com/news/catastrophic-fires-burn-thousands-of-acres-force-evacuations-1820174.html

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Current Map of Fires Throughout Texas:

http://www.wunderground.com/wundermap/?lat=31.48489&lon=-100.41504&zoom=6&type=map&units=english&top=fire&rad=0&wxsn=0&svr=0&cams=0&sat=0&riv=0&mm=0&hur=0&fire=1&fire.sat=1&fire.smk=1&fire.day=1&fire.day=7&fire.hrmin=0&fire.hrmax=24&fire.opa=70&fire.mode=0&tor=0&ndfd=0&pix=0&dir=0&ads=0&tfk=0&ski=0

[kestrel91316]

1. Wow. Imagine how bad it would be if global warming were REAL.

[Kali]

2. Damn, Texas is really suffering this summer.

Hope they get some rain statewide soon! I know these conditions too well.and they suck. Going to cause a big change in ag demographics from all the older folks selling out.

[Dover]

6. Thanks for your kind and empathetic response.

I don't know what affect this particular set of fires will ultimately have. Some of what's burning is ag land, but most seems to be residential housing developments.
However as regards the bigger picture, as you suggest, this summer has been brutal on farmers and ranchers in all areas of the state and will indeed force many to give up. Conditions are being compared to the Dust Bowl era.

[christx30]

3. That fire is

about 20 miles from me. My family and I are watching it very carefully. We all have bags packed and in the car. All we need is the evacuation order. Hopefully we won't need it.

[rainbow4321]

4. Dallas area firefighters are heading to Austin

to help out.

You can follow the wildfire updates via Twitter using #centraltxfires

[on point]

5. That's OK, no such thing as climate change. Just pray for rain

Oh and get rid of public servants like fire fighters cause everyone is a rugged "individlist" who can fight fire on his own property

[christx30]

7. For those of you that want it

there is a kml file that the forestry service has put out. It's a plugin that goes into Google Earth that shows the locations of the fires
http://txforestservice.tamu.edu/main/popup.aspx?id=10588

Also go to http://www.wunderground.com/wundermap/?lat=31.48489&lon=-100.41504&zoom=6&type=map&units=english&top=fire&rad=0&wxsn=0&svr=0&cams=0&sat=0&riv=0&mm=0&hur=0&fire=1&fire.sat=1&fire.smk=1&fire.day=1&fire.day=7&fire.hrmin=0&fire.hrmax=24&fire.opa=70&fire.mode=0&tor=0&ndfd=0&pix=0&dir=0&ads=0&tfk=0&ski=0

It's Weather Underground and one of the things you can look at is locations of fires.

[haele]

8. Damn - wildfires are no joke.

Here's hoping you folks do get some rain soon. For all the jokes some people in that state set themselves up for (and hey, we Californos set ourselves up all the time), this is not something y'all should be going through. Stay safe.

Haele

[truthisfreedom]

9. Imagine if this weather persists for years... or worse yet, increases in intensity.

What a nightmare! I hope all of our DU friends and their loved ones are safe.

[Odin2005]

10. Now we got a dust bowl to go with our depression.