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Texas Wildfire Scorches 23 Homes, Businesses
Laura Heinauer and Asher Price
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
At least 23 homes and nine businesses were wiped out and more than 650 acres were scorched as a fire probably caused by a downed power line rolled through a semirural stretch of Bastrop County on Saturday,
The Wilderness Ridge Fire, as it is being called, sent billows of smoke skyward all afternoon, and it forced dozens of residents to evacuate their homes in the early afternoon.
At one point, more than 200 homes were threatened. One firefighter was treated for smoke inhalation, but no other injuries were reported Saturday night.
Portions of Texas 71 between Bastrop and Smithville were shut down as crews from at least four firefighting airplanes, three helicopters and a host of emergency vehicles toiled to keep the fast-moving fire, fed by gusty winds and parched conditions, at bay.
County Judge Ronnie McDonald declared Bastrop a disaster zone, opening the way for state or federal help.
It's the second time in less than two weeks that the judge has declared a disaster. McDonald wrote Gov. Rick Perry asking for help because of record dry conditions.
The area struck by the fire is home to Bastrop's piney woods and some of its agriculture. It is also dotted with subdivisions.
Sandra Taylor, a spokeswoman for the Texas Forest Service, which was assisting Bastrop County with the fire, said officials did not know the names of the destroyed businesses.
As night fell, officials said the fire was 40 percent contained and said they were hoping to make a stand along the Colorado River.
Officials were hoping that the fire, whipped by gusts up to 39 mph in midafternoon, would slow down as winds steadily decreased after sunset.
National Weather Service forecaster Chris Morris said he expected light winds overnight, topping out at 15 mph today.
"We'll probably have to continue fighting the fire" today, County Commissioner Willie Piña said.
Officials at the Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative said the fire began at midday with a power line downed by a blown-over tree.
The tree that fell across the power line was taller than 60 feet and more than a foot outside the right of way Bluebonnet co-op maintains along its power lines, said Will Holford a Bluebonnet spokesman.
The co-op maintains a right of way that is 30 feet wide ... 15 feet on each side extending from the center of its power lines.
At 12:02 p.m., the co-op's control center got a call that a line had been downed in the Alum Creek area north of Texas 71 between Bastrop and Buescher state parks and that a power cable was "making popping noises," Holford said.
By the time a co-op crew appeared on the scene a half-hour later, the fire had raged out of control, he said.
Nearby homeowners were quickly told to evacuate to Smithville or Bastrop. Shelters were set up at the First Baptist Church and the Heart of the Pines Volunteer Fire Department in Smithville, with assistance from the American Red Cross.
Those shelters were later consolidated at the Smithville Recreation Center to accommodate more people.
Animal control personnel were dispatched to save pets and livestock.
At the shelter at the church, where about 20 people were taking small comfort in a dinner of pizza and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, evacuee Terry Carmack worried about her four dogs, which she had left chained up when she went to a tae kwon do tournament Saturday morning. Carmack also owns a horse and a donkey.
"We just don't know how they're doing," she said.
Elizabeth Rienker, who lives near Alum Creek, was driving back to her home about 12:30 p.m. when she smelled smoke in the air.
She took a few minutes to grab as much memorabilia as she could from her home, including old photos and a wedding bowl that had been given to her grandmother.
She said she was about to grab some letters her daughters wrote her when they were children when she heard a loud pop, which she thought was probably a pine tree exploding.
"Better go," she said she thought to herself.
"It must be because of the horrible factors of high winds and the drought we've been experiencing," she said from a general store near Texas 71, where she and other evacuees took refuge. "There have been so many firefighters out there, but the smoke continues.
"It's beautiful property out there, with all those pines," she said. "It's land I've never taken for granted."
Copyright 2009 The Austin American-Statesman
All Rights Reserved
Austin American-Statesman (Texas)
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Childressfirefighter36 on
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I do agree, the land is breath-taking. My grandparents live in Big Country. It feels awful to see a house go up in flames, and not be able to save it, but not just to feel sorrow for that family, yourself too. All we can do is pray, and prepare for rain. Up in the Texas Panhandle we get the hot, dry, and high winds with the low humidites it brings along. As of right now no major grass fires, just another day at the office, God be with those fighting these big wildfires, you are in my prayers.
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Permalink Reply by John on
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Our prayer to the victims for the loss of their houses I hope they get everything taken care of and with no casulties to our brothers.
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Permalink Reply by Oldman on
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Their saying 90% contained. Bringing in crew from Asheville, North Carolina to assist.
Texas Interagency Incident Situation Report for today includes other fires around the state.
Large Fires from Yesterday
SUGAR RANCH FIRE, Dimmit County, Texas Forest Service: Started by power lines yesterday morning, the
fire is 300 acres and 85% contained. Full containment is expected today.
Uncontained Large Fires from Previous Days
WILDERNESS RIDGE FIRE, Bastrop County, Texas Forest Service: Numerous residences and outbuildings
remain at risk on this fire 33 miles southeast of Austin. Losses include 29 homes, 12 businesses and 13 other
buildings, with an additional 200 homes, 5 businesses and 30 outbuildings still threatened. Despite diminished
winds yesterday the fire remained active in heavy fuels including timber, brush and grass. Some evacuated
residents were being allowed to return to their homes yesterday. A downed power line is believed to be the cause.
WEST FORK FIRE, Jack County, Texas Forest Service: Currently 90% contained at 2,400 acres.
NAIL RANCH COMPLEX, Shackelford County, Texas Forest Service: 95% contained at 1,304 acres. Still
some smoldering and creeping, but no further increase expected. Fire departments will continue to monitor.
RHODES RANCH FIRE, Taylor County, Texas Forest Service: 85% contained at 3,026 acres. The north end of
the fire remained active yesterday. Containment efforts will continue today.
WF SABINE PASS, Jefferson County, US Fish & Wildlife Service: This 500-acre fire started on Saturday on the
Texas Point NWR. Debris from Hurricane Ike, strong gusty winds and heavy grass fuels hampered containment
efforts. USFWS engine crews will continue to monitor the fire today.
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Final tally: Bastrop County: Report of the 1491-acre Wilderness Ridge Fire located off of Cottletown Road and SH
71. 29 homes, 12 businesses and 13 other buildings were destroyed. 200 homes, five businesses and
30 outbuildings were threatened and saved. One firefighter was injured. All evacuation orders have
been lifted. Texas Department of Transportation is assisting with debris removal. Smithville, 3N1, and
Bastrop FDs, Elgin, Paige, and Heart of the Pines VFDs, Bastrop Federal Correctional Institute, TFS,
ARC, TSA, TWPD, LCRA, DPS, GDEM RLO 6A and Bastrop PD responded. (RLO 6A, RLO 6C, TFS)
Fire occurrence for the past seven days, TFS responded to 83 fires for 12,070 acres. Local fire departments responded to 177 fires for 9,226 acres. Source: Texas DPS and Texas Forest Service
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Permalink Reply by CHARLIE FRYMIRE on
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I WAS THERE WITH A WILLIAMSON COUNTY TASKFORCE THAT ARRIVED ONSCENE ABOUT 4:45 PM THAT SATURDAY.WHAT A MESS! THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY TASKFORCE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR SAVING THREE STRUCTURES.
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