Wild Fires in Texas

[TBF]

I know Texas isn't always the most popular place to talk about on DU, but wild fires have done a tremendous amount of damage this weekend (particularly in the Austin area where we do have many DUers). Please take a moment to think of them tonight and maybe a prayer if you are so inclined.

Current map of fire activity in Texas:

http://ticc.tamu.edu/Response/FireActivity/default.aspx

[Guilded Lilly]

1. I have friends and relatives in Texas...Austin particularly...sending White Light.

[tblue]

2. HOOOOLY COW!!! The whole state is on fire!

Oh, I hope they got the people out!!!


Rick Perry prayed for rain and got fire instead. :shrug:

[TBF]

4. I know, that map kind of scares the crap out of me

I'm thankful we're not too far from the coast, but still ...

[rdking647]

3. the bastrop fire from austin

[RagAss]

5. I hope Austin is spared.

[rdking647]

10. unfortunatly it hasnt been

the steiner ranch subdivision in nw austin was evacuated. 25 homes were destroyed and another 30 damaged.
there is another large fire just west of austin that has torched over 6000 acres. it was mostly contained earlier today but it blew past the containment tonight and is now only 40% contained.

i spent the day at austin pets alive which took in a tone of dogs from the evacuated bastrop animal shelter.
if anyone wants to donate to the shelter heres a link
http://www.razoo.com/story/Sal11-Jeff-Cohen

[RagAss]

11. sorry to hear this....n/t

[TBF]

17. Austin Pets Alive

Just underlining this for folks who like to help the animals.

i spent the day at austin pets alive which took in a tone of dogs from the evacuated bastrop animal shelter.
if anyone wants to donate to the shelter heres a link
http://www.razoo.com/story/Sal11-Jeff-Cohen

Thanks rdking647

[Lisa0825]

18. Gee, only Austin?

What about the numerous DUers we have in the greater Houston and DFW areas?

[TBF]

39. There are DUers all over Texas - from Dallas to Amarillo to Beaumont -

I think the most devastation over the weekend is to Austin, and my thoughts/prayers are especially with them, but I too am worried about the entire state right now.

[Lisa0825]

52. The whole state is like a tinderbox right now.

It just seemed to me that the poster I responded to was responding in an "Austin is liberal but who cares about the rest" kind of manner. I may be off the mark, but I am so used to being dissed here that I expect it.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. I did what I could, I tweeted and will ask people to retweet

the HELP us post

[TBF]

7. Thanks - it is particularly bad in the Austin area. nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. These are the times I feel so damn helpless

at the very least I could do manning medical stations...

[nadinbrzezinski]

21. It is now getting retweeted

[TBF]

9. Fire damage escalates as night falls

Fire damage escalates as night falls
Evacuations in Leander; Bastrop still burning

Updated: Monday, 05 Sep 2011, 9:22 PM CDT
Published : Sunday, 04 Sep 2011, 7:02 PM CDT

AUSTIN (KXAN) - All across the Greater Austin area on Monday, officials and residents were coming to grips with the magnitude of damage inflicted by the series wind-fueled wildfires that destroyed more than 500 homes and charred about 25,000 acres.

much more detail here: http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/information-on-fires-in-central-texas

[Fleshdancer]

12. It's scary.

It seems like no matter which direction you drive, you see large plumes of smoke off in the distance. A new fire started near my neighborhood tonight. It's 70% contained, but it's going to be impossible to fall asleep until I know it's out or well contained at the very least. My daughter's school is closed tomorrow. We've packed our most precious items and clothes just in case we have to evacuate.

[Texasgal]

13. It IS scary!

I won;t be sleeping tonight either. I am way too close.

I hope you and your family are safe. *hugs*

[TBF]

14. Very scary -

I will be thinking of you. Fires are still about 80 miles away from my area (we are in the south suburbs of Houston).

[cwydro]

15. I've seen some really heartless posts on here

about Texas...

I really hope those posters get a freaking clue.

[Name removed]

25. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[cwydro]

27. As someone who has been absolutely devasted by two hurricanes

I can assure you I made no "heartless" posts about Irene.

I am going to resist making a personal attack here.

No idea who you are or what you have against me, but you are clueless...I'll leave it at that.

[cwydro]

28. "WE" remember on here?

What?

Who is we? ... I see you joined in 2008?

That was three years after I lost my house in Wilma...and 7 after I lost my car in Georges...

And I've been on DU much longer than you and I assure you that "YOU" remembering anything about me means nothing to me.

You ever been in a hurricane? A fire?

Oh let me stop before I speak my mind....

[oldlib]

37. Texas deserves our support.

It is a state within this country and its people are American citizens. My prayers are with them.

[TBF]

16. For anyone interested in making donations to help folks in Austin -

Austin Disaster Relief Network: http://www.adrntx.org/

or

Red Cross of Central TX: http://www.centex.redcross.org/index.asp?IDCapitulo=F9ZLZNZ3KD

[Texasgal]

19. More animal rescue info:

"I live in Lampasas and I have 2500 acres with 20 horse stalls, multiple pens, and pastures if anyone needs a place to put animals. Message me or call me 512 734 6080"

[Manifestor_of_Light]

20. Fires in Houston and Anderson County.

Crockett, NE of Grapeland, Palestine on the north side.

[TBF]

36. Montgomery and Grimes county as well - 1488

is closed, Magnolia schools closed today. It's the area up where the Renaissance Festival is every year. We have friends up there so I'm acquainted with the area. So sad ...

[jwirr]

22. A stupid question: Where is Killeen/Fort Hood located - my niece and

nephew live there.

[Lisa0825]

23. About 50 miles north of Austin. nt

[onestepforward]

24. Use the zoom function on the map

and you'll be able to see Kileen, which is north of Austin.

[turntxblue]

26. Thank you.

Thank you for your compassion, kindness, and concern for those of us in Texas. I'm in an area in central TX that hasn't been threatened yet by the fires, although they've, periodically, been as close as 30-45 min. away. You can't imagine how dry it is here. Large trees are dying from drought and heat, and the wildlife is having a tough time in many places. Today we got a wonderfully cool day, but the wind is blowing, and I can't imagine how firefighters would be able to contain a fire in these conditions. There's just so little anyone can do to make it better. We need rain so badly. We appreciate all of you kind words, thoughts and prayers. We're fine in my little town, but there are many people throughout our state who aren't. Thanks for posting the map of fire activity. I'd not seen it before, and it is startling.

[TBF]

33. I haven't been as up on this as I should've been - only noticed when I heard

references to Montgomery and Grimes County - we have friends up there. It is about 80 miles from us here in South Houston (I'm in the suburbs about smack in the middle between downtown and Surfside). We are in Brazoria County so we've still been watering occasionally (they ask us to do alternating days but I haven't even done it that much), also near a lake. It is cool and calm this morning in this area, and still fairly green compared to much of Texas.

I was shocked last night when I started getting updates on Facebook from friends in Austin. Whole housing developments are being burned out there.

[MrMickeysMom]

29. From the foothills of Hill Country up...

Lots of good people in TX....

Shitty Governors, yes, but good people.

[Tsiyu]

30. K and R for the good people of Texas

:kick:

[southmost]

31. meanwhile the governor is fixin his hair to be the next preznit

while texas burns

[TBF]

34. He's an embarrassment for sure,

but there are a lot of good folks here. Thanks for the bump. His honor is apparently en route back to Austin from the campaign trail ...

[rainbow4321]

32. What a nightmare for those people

Positive vibes being sent from North Texas!!

[TBF]

35. I had to turn in at 10 last night (I get up early to walk the dog) -

thank you for all the comments and bumps.

Here is where we are this morning via Reuters story -

AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - A massive wildfire east of the Texas state capital of Austin has destroyed 476 homes since Sunday and is still burning out of control, state officials said on Monday.

"I'm still seeing no containment," said April Saginor, public information officer for the Texas Forest Service, who confirmed that the Bastrop County Complex Fire has scorched more than 25,000 acres and burned 476 residences so far.

"That's a record in Texas for a single fire," she said of the homes destroyed.

The Bastrop fire is one of more than sixty fires which have kindled across Texas since Sunday afternoon, fueled by the gusty winds generated as Tropical Storm Lee pushed by in the Gulf of Mexico as it made landfall in Louisiana.

More here - http://news.yahoo.com/austin-area-wildfire-burns-record-476-homes-texas-235008958.html

[maddezmom]

38. getting closer to us now in Montgomery County

and no rain in the 10 day forcast. :(

[Lone_Star_Dem]

40. There are two fires in that area if I'm not mistaken. Stay safe!

I think, but am not sure, they're moving more SW into Grimes now. Still, stay safe and keep your eyes open for smoke in your area. :hug:

[TBF]

41. I will be thinking of you MaddezMom -

I have friends in Grimes County (actually maybe Waller - I just know they are past Montgomery), but they've been in touch and the fires are south of them at this point.

[maddezmom]

43. thanks. There was one due east of me that 80% contained and the one in Grimes

is a bit aways from me to the NW but it's huge. But I live in a neighborhood that borders a nature preserve and walked there quite a few time in the past week or so and it's a tinderbox. :(

[TBF]

42. I've been looking for updates on deaths from this fire -

So far this is the only reference I've found -

"The wildfire devoured hundreds of homes and has killed a mother and her child. At least 476 homes were destroyed in a massive Bastrop County fire that raged into the second day after erupting on Sunday, said state officials on Monday."

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/208938/20110906/texas-wildfires-bastrop-county-destroy-500-homes-austin-fires-ravage-governor-rick-perry-returns-pre.htm

Very sad, but it looks like they are getting folks evacuated for the most part. Over 500 homes gone though, just devastating.

[MicaelS]

44. The area between Bastrop and Smithville is

Basically 15 miles of Piney Woods. A lot of these homes were built in subdivisions out in the Piney Woods east of Bastrop. Pine trees burn like mad when dry.

Buescher State Park outside Smithville is currently closed. I read on one website that 40% of the park had burned. http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/buescher/

[TBF]

45. Updated story from the Chron - over 1000 homes destroyed in the past week

from fires in central texas. 600+ in the Bastrop area (about 30 miles south of Austin).

"AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — More than 1,000 homes have been destroyed in at least 57 wildfires across rain-starved Texas, most of them in one devastating blaze close to Austin that is still raging out of control, officials said Tuesday.

Speaking at a news conference near one of the fire-ravaged areas, Texas Gov. Rick Perry said more than 100,000 acres have burned in the drought-stricken state.

The Texas Forest Service says nearly 600 of the torched homes were in Bastrop County, some 25 miles (40 kilometers) from Austin, the state capital The agency said that blaze was still uncontained Tuesday. It was the most destructive fire of the year for a state that has had more than 3 million acres burned, said state emergency management chief Nim Kidd.

The number of destroyed homes is expected to go higher as officials assess hard-hit areas, Kidd said."

Much more here - http://www.chron.com/news/article/Officials-1-000-Texas-homes-burned-in-past-week-2155810.php

[maddezmom]

46. this is heartbreaking

:(

[Fleshdancer]

47. Pictures from NYTimes

I wish I could post the first pic in this slideshow directly because it's worth showing: http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2011/09/06/us/20110906_WILDFIRE.html

The first pic should be the fire in Bastrop. Last night I read it was 16 miles wide. As of now, it's still not contained and ash is all over the place.

[TBF]

48. Thank you - the Chron has a gallery of 48 pics

but they are pretty small: http://www.chron.com/news/gallery/Wildfires-close-to-home-30690/photo-1576943.php

[rainbow4321]

49. All but 100 acres of Bastrop State Park has burned up

according to a tweet that just went out...the park itself is 5,926 acres :(


http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/bastrop/

[Fleshdancer]

50. HOLY HELL!!!! You can see this Bastrop fire FROM SPACE!

:wow:

http://thescoopblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/09/central-texas-fires-visible-fr.html

[TBF]

51. More about pet evacuations in the Bastrop area -

"If you have lost your pets in the Bastrop area, please contact Erica at Bastrop Animal Control to determine the location, 512-629-3159. If you think your pet may be at the Austin Humane Society, please send a photo and detailed description along with your information to [e-mail] or call 512-646-7387."

story here: http://weareaustin.com/fulltext/?nxd_id=176537