The Texas Forest Service said a devastating outbreak of wildfires has destroyed more than 1,000 homes in the last two days, and that number may continue to go up.
More than 180 fires have erupted in the past week across the state, killing at least four people and burning more than 118,000 acres. In the last two days, 700 homes have been destroyed.
The majority of the homes destroyed in the blazes burned in the Bastrop County Complex Fire southeast of Austin. The inferno had charred more than 45 square miles, destroyed nearly 600 homes and forced the evacuation of 20 neighborhoods in Bastrop County.
By Wednesday morning, the fire is only 30 percent contained. Calmer winds are helping some, but the wildfire is raging out of control along an 18-mile front.
"It's overwhelming," said Martin Gonzales, whose home was destroyed in the blaze. "I mean, you know, me and my wife came out this morning. We saw everything. We had our moment because our home, it was precious to us."
Officials confirmed that at least two people were killed but did not offer any further details other than to say the victims aren't police or firefighters. A total of five people have been killed in the outbreak of wildfires, including a 76-year-old man in Kaufman County on Tuesday.
Gov. Rick Perry cut short a presidential campaign trip to South Carolina to deal with the crisis. On Tuesday, he toured a blackened area near Bastrop and later deployed the state's elite search team to the area to look for more possible victims. Texas Task Force 1 is the same outfit sent to New York following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and to New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Strong winds and low relative humidity from Tropical Storm Lee caused numerous wildfires to spread rapidly, according to the TFS. That, coupled with parched vegetation, created the perfect cocktail for grass fires across the state.
The fire has forced an estimated 5,000 people to evacuate their homes as of Monday. While they wait for news on their neighborhoods, they can only fear the worst has happened.
"I grabbed my dog, my kid and my wife, and we were out the door," Wesley Donner said. "With the clothes on our backs -- that's all we've got."
The fire in Bastrop County is easily the single most devastating wildfire in Texas in more than a decade, eclipsing the Possum Kingdom Lake blaze that destroyed 168 homes in April. Texas Forest Service spokeswoman April Saginor said state wildfire records go back only to the late 1990s.
Central Texas Fires Destroy Dozens of Homes
Surrounding the Bastrop complex, several additional wildfires have destroyed hundreds of homes and thousands of acres.
In Grimes County, east of Bryan, the Riley Road Fire has destroyed 3,000 acres and has an unknown level of containment Tuesday. The fire is exhibiting extreme fire behavior as it burns rapidly west of Magnolia. At least 20 homes have been destroyed with another 150 immediately threatened and another 100 in its path. The fire is actively moving to the south.
The Moonglow Fire in Williamson County has burned 300 acres and is 75 percent contained Tuesday afternoon, the Austin American-Statesman reports. The fire is burning in Leander where 150 homes were threatened with 13 being lost, according to the TFS.
The Steiner Ranch Fire in Travis County burned through 125 acres and was 40 percent contained Tuesday morning. The fire started just north of the Steiner Ranch subdivision. More than 1,000 homes are under mandatory evacuation in Steiner Ranch. At least 35 homes are reported lost. A Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System strike team responded.
The Pedernales Bend Fire, also in Travis County destroyed 6,500 acres and is 40 percent contained Tuesday morning. In all, 67 homes were lost. The fire has jumped the Pedernales River and is actively burning toward the south four miles southeast of Spicewood.
Two Killed in East Texas Wildfire
There are also several fires in East Texas burning with various levels of containment, one of which killed two people.
East of Tyler on the Smith/Gregg county line, the Moore Fire forced the evacuation of 10 homes, five of which were destroyed. A 20-year-old woman and her child were killed in this fire. As of Tuesday morning, the fire has charred 1,300 acres and is now 90 percent contained.
KETK in Tyler reported a new fire at about 3 p.m. Tuesday in Smith County near County Road 113 and County Road 119 between White House and Bullard. Firefighters are working the blaze but house may be in danger if the fire reaches County Road 334, KETK reported.
In Gregg County, east of Tyler, burns the Old Magnolia Fire. The fire has charred 500 acres and has an unknown level of containment Tuesday. Several structures and a gas plant are threatened. Two fuel tanks have already exploded. Also in Gregg County is the #543 Fire which has burned 300 acres and also has an unknown containment level. The fire is burning east Texas pine and hardwood. Numerous homes saved, none lost.
The Kennedy Road Fire in Rusk County, southeast of Tyler, has destroyed one home while threatening others. The fire has burned about 150 acres and the containment level is not known. The #505 Fire, also in Rusk Co., has burned 400 acres and has an unknown containment level.
At about 3 p.m., a new fire was reported near Overton in Rusk County. The fire is located near County Road 3110 south of New London and Turnertown, KETK reported Tuesday afternoon. KETK is also reporting that state Highway 31 between Athens and Murchison is closed.
The #502 Fire in Nacogdoches County has prompted the evacuation of dozens of homes, though none have been lost. The fire has burned through an estimated 2,900 acres and has an unknown containment level.
PK 101 Ranch Fire 85 Percent Contained
In spite of the increased fire threat over the holiday weekend, firefighters in North Texas were able to contain another 25 percent of the 101 Ranch fire near Possum Kingdom Lake.
The fire is now said to have consumed 6,555 acres and is 85 percent contained, according to the Texas Forest Service. The fire is now primarily located on the lake's south side near the town of Brad. In all, 39 homes and nine RVs have been destroyed by the fire.
By Frank Heinz
By Frank Heinz
taken from http://www.nbcdfw.com/weather/stories/Wildfires-Rip-Through-North-Central-Texas-129256793.html
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