Extreme Wildfire Danger: Texas Wildfires

[srainhoutx]

Getting reports of a wildfire now in the College Station area with evacuations being ordered.

[Portastorm]

We have multiple wildfires burning in the Austin metro area (several in Pflugerville, one in Cedar Park) this afternoon. I'm sure more will follow as the cold front sinks through the area, continuing the gusty winds and dropping humidity levels even further.

Emergency managers and fire personnel across the state are going to have a horrible 24 hours ahead of them.

According to local media reports, all 13 fire departments in Travis County were fighting fires as of 2 p.m.!

[srainhoutx]

Hearing reports that mutual aid from surrounding States are being activated to help with the wildfires.

[Katdaddy]

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FIRE WARNING
Extreme wildfire day in progress:

TEXAS DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
RELAYED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
359 PM CDT SUN SEP 4 2011

THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS TRANSMITTED AT THE REQUEST OF THE LEON
COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

A RAPIDLY GROWING WILDFIRE IS AFFECTING LOCATIONS SOUTHEAST OF
MARQUEZ. THE COUNTY HAS ORDERED AN EVACUATION OF ALL RESIDENTS WHO
LIVE SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 7 AND WEST OF FARM-TO-MARKET ROAD 39.
RESIDENTS SHOULD EVACUATE TO THE SOUTH AND EAST TO AVOID THE FIRE
AND THEN HEAD TO CENTERVILLE. AN EVACUATION SHELTER IS IN PLACE
AT THE CENTERVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH. DO NOT DRIVE INTO HEAVY OR
DENSE SMOKE...NEVER CROSS ANY BARRICADED ROADWAYS. MORE
INFORMATION WILL BE PROVIDED AS LEON COUNTY RELAYS IT.

[rnmm]

I sure hope so Srain!! This is so bad!

[Portastorm]

I just read some reports on Twitter where drivers on I-10 between San Antonio and Houston are experiencing zero visibility in places due to ongoing wildfires. Same with I-20 in the northeast part of the state.

[srainhoutx]

Another e-mail update from Jeff:

Bastrop County: Massive wildfire burning in Bastrop County has grown rapidly to 6,000 acres. Fire is burning forward at 40-50mph. Several towns have ordered mandatory evacuations including Bastrop State Park, Lake Bastrop Pine, and Circle D Acres to the Colorado River. Several homes are being threatened. Numerous local and state agencies are responding with both ground and air assists. Radar is showing a tremendous 40-45dbz with this fire.

Colorado County: 1,400 acre fire is burning along I-10 near Columbus. Mandatory evacuations are in effect for the Piney Hills area. Fire is not contained and is burning toward I-10. Numerous local departments and TFS is responding.

Katy Fire: Grass fire is burning in Katy near I-10 and SH 99. Several large commercial buildings are being threatened. Numerous fire departments are responding.

Conditions remain very critical for the formation and rapid spread of wildfires as noted by NNW winds of 30-40mph, dry fuels, and low RH. Fires that have developed this afternoon have grown to several thousand acres in less than 4 hours

[srainhoutx]

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FIRE WARNING
TEXAS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TEXAS
RELAYED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
444 PM CDT SUN SEP 4 2011

THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS TRANSMITTED AT THE REQUEST OF THE
BASTROP COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS.

A NEW FIRE HAS FORMED ON GRIFFIN LEAGUE RANCH HEADED SOUTH AND
WILL JOIN WITH THE ONGOING WILDFIRE.

A MANDATORY EVACUATION NOTICE HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR PEOPLE IN THE
FOLLOWING LOCATIONS DUE TO THE THREAT OF WILDFIRES...

ALL CIRCLE D COUNTY ACRES...ALL HOMES ON SCHWANTZ RANCH ROAD...AND
OLD POTATO ROAD...AND ALL HOMES ALONG HIGHWAY 21 EAST ALL THE WAY TO
PAIGE.

[srainhoutx]

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FIRE WARNING
TEXAS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TEXAS
RELAYED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
513 PM CDT SUN SEP 4 2011

THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS TRANSMITTED AT THE REQUEST OF THE BASTROP
COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS.

DUE TO A NEW WILDFIRE...A MANDATORY EVACUATION NOTICE HAS BEEN
ISSUED FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...

ALL OF THE COLONY.

A MANDATORY EVACUATION NOTICE REMAINS IN EFFECT DUE TO ONGOING
WILDFIRES FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS ...

ALL OF CIRCLE D COUNTY ACRES AREA...PINE VIEW WEST...LAKE BASTROP
PINE...ALL OF TAHITIAN VILLAGE...COLOVISTA...ALAN CREEK...BASTROP
STATE PARK...COTTLE TOWN TO THE RIVER...RESIDENTS ALONG HARMON
ROAD AND PINE HILL LOOP...ALL HOMES ON SCHWANTZ RANCH ROAD...ALL
HOMES ON OLD POTATO ROAD...AND ALL HOMES ALONG HIGHWAY 21 EAST
EXTENDING TO PAIGE.

[maroondreams]

I saw grass fire off if 290 and beltway 8.

[srainhoutx]

TCEQ Fire Imagery...

[srainhoutx]

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FIRE WARNING
TEXAS DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
RELAYED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
530 PM CDT SUN SEP 4 2011

THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS TRANSMITTED AT THE REQUEST NAVARRO COUNTY
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

A 1500 TO 2000 ACRE GRASS FIRE IS CURRENTLY BURNING OUT OF CONTROL
NEAR THE CITY OF NAVARRO. NUMEROUS FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARE ON
SCENE...BUT DUE TO HIGH WINDS...THIS FIRE IS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL.
NAVARRO COUNTY HAS ISSUED AN EVACUATION ORDER FOR ALL RESIDENTS IN
THE CITY OF NAVARRO. DO NOT DRIVE INTO HEAVY OR DENSE
SMOKE...NEVER CROSS ANY BARRICADED ROADWAYS. MORE INFORMATION WILL
BE PROVIDED AS NAVARRO COUNTY RELAYS IT.

[srainhoutx]

It appears a new fire has broke out in Fayette County near La Grange.

[Katdaddy]

Extreme wildfire situation today. Hope everyone is evacuating the fires safely. I have a plan to take all that is important at a minutes notice. Not something I want to experience and feel for everyone being effected by the wildfires.

[singlemom]

If anyone has any information about the fires in East Texas....specifically in Gregg County.

My 75 year old Mom is in the house I grew up in off of I-20. She just got the call that she is a mile away from the 1 mile mandatory evacuation zone. There looks to be *a lot* of fires in the area. Does any one have a map of where they are and which direction they are headed.

[txsnowmaker]

Is anyone else wondering why City of Houston/Harris County officials have not been communicating to the public about fire preparedness/evacuation procedures? (correct me if I am wrong and they have actually been doing so)

[Katdaddy]

Singlemom, the best information I have recieved is from the http://www.facebook.com/TxStormChasers#!/TxStormChasers page.

[singlemom]

Singlemom, the best information I have recieved is from the http://www.facebook.com/TxStormChasers#!/TxStormChasers page.

OMG thank you Katdaddy. We lost many people we loved and just about everything in an explosion in 2003 in East Texas. That house is the last of what we have.

[jeff]

Bastrop Fire: now 14,000 acres with estimated 300 homes lost. Several hundred more are threatened. Fire has jumped the Colorado River in two place and HWy 21. Fires lines are 16 miles long and will likely not be held.

City of Austin is recalling all fire fighters. Numerous major fires burning around the city and in the city. Homes lost around Lake Travis and in Cedar Park.

LaGrange Fire: homes are threatened, some are burning.

Walker County: I-45 near FM 1696, 80 homes threatened and being evacuated.

Horrible conditions will continue again on Monday with large fast moving wildfires likely. Additional homes will be lost.

[Portastorm]

Yeah, the smell of smoke is inescapable here in town. I live in the southwest part of the county and am keeping a close eye on current wildfires burning in Spicewood Springs and in the Steiner Ranch area.