Ace of Spades HQ

September 05, 2011

Central Texas Conflagration Update
— Dave in Texas

Intrepid moron chick Melissa in Texas sent these to me today. I fussed at her for gettin out there. She told me to shut up.

In a nice way.

There are thousands of people displaced now, while fire crews try to get this shit under control. The winds are back up, unfortunately.

more, Austin, out east

5 intersection of 71 and 150 to Bastrop.JPG

Somebody owes her a beer.

Posted by: Dave in Texas at 05:39 PM | Comments (154)
Post contains 69 words, total size 1 kb.

1 But Perry is a loser for going back home to Texas to help deal with this. right?

Posted by: Hrothgar at September 05, 2011 05:41 PM (i3+c5)

2 Texas?

Never heard of it.

Posted by: Charlie Gibson and his buddy Barry at September 05, 2011 05:42 PM (/O44N)

3 We're lucky so far in N TX. No fires close by. Unfortunately, no rain forecast for the next two weeks. Any high wind days are going to be serious red flag days for us. Wonder how many idiots I'll see still throwing their cigarette butts out the window towards the dry grass?

Posted by: Jon in TX at September 05, 2011 05:43 PM (lRqIF)

4 Is that the Joint session Congress is having?

Posted by: CoolCzech at September 05, 2011 05:44 PM (niZvt)

5 Texas?

Fuck em.

Posted by: EPA at September 05, 2011 05:44 PM (/O44N)

6 Is that the Joint session Congress is having?

Posted by: CoolCzech at September 05, 2011 09:44 PM (niZvt)

You can bet I'll need me a few Joints before and after that session!

Posted by: Barry Ø at September 05, 2011 05:46 PM (i3+c5)

7 Rick Perry?

He's got pretty hair!

OK not as nice as Silky, but don't you just love his big biceps?

Posted by: Barney at September 05, 2011 05:47 PM (/O44N)

8 Is that the Joint session Congress is having?

Posted by: CoolCzech at September 05, 2011 09:44 PM (niZvt)

No, it's the joint the session in Congress is having...

Posted by: Stateless Infidel at September 05, 2011 05:49 PM (GKQDR)

9 They would not allow us to get any closer than the Super 8 on Highway 71. 21 heading east was completely blocked.
The Lost Pines area was such a beautiful oasis on the drive heading East.
*sigh*
I want to than Governor Perry for heading home where he is needed and thanks to one and all for the prayers for our state.

Posted by: Melissa In Texas at September 05, 2011 05:53 PM (OPqtj)

10 http://img.ly/84Pu

From the same area yesterday. Unreal.

Posted by: RIP Ford at September 05, 2011 05:53 PM (EOEoG)

If you have asthma, then you can be hundreds of miles away and still the smoke/dust/particulates can send you to the Emergency Room.

Posted by: Name Name Name at September 05, 2011 05:53 PM (nfn9A)

12
I sure hope Texas got EPA approval for this fire.

Posted by: RayJ at September 05, 2011 05:54 PM (LYiL5)

13 Damn it.

http://img.ly/84Pu or

http://s3.amazonaws.com/imgly_production/1925192/large.jpg

Posted by: RIP Ford at September 05, 2011 05:54 PM (EOEoG)

14 Anyone else watching the Miami-Maryland game? Wow, Maryland put the court jesters on the field.

Posted by: logprof at September 05, 2011 05:55 PM (lh7Yc)

If you have asthma, then you can be hundreds of miles away and still the smoke/dust/particulates can send you to the Emergency Room.

Point being that if you have asthma and you're anywhere near ground zero, then you are in very real danger of [literally] coughing to death.

Posted by: Name Name Name at September 05, 2011 05:55 PM (nfn9A)

Posted by: Melissa In Texas at September 05, 2011 09:53 PM (OPqtj)

Thank you for the pictures too by the way. And of course, extra prayers for Texas.

Posted by: Stateless Infidel at September 05, 2011 05:57 PM (GKQDR)

17 I'm still ign'nt of Texas geography. These aren;t close to the Metroplex yet, are they?

Posted by: logprof at September 05, 2011 05:57 PM (lh7Yc)

18 wow
I hope you all are safe
please let us know if you need anything, okay?
(disaster-related, that is - not like hookers 'n' blow or some shit like that)

Posted by: chemjeff at September 05, 2011 05:58 PM (s7mIC)

Prayers for Central Texicans.

Feeling guilty about the heat wave being broken, temps tonite in Houston going down to 57 with 18% relative humidity. BRB, opening windows and shutting off A/C.

Cool & dry is welcome relief, but would trade right back for warm and humid if it meant a tropical storm was passing through, headed for Austin.

Posted by: Count de Monet at September 05, 2011 05:58 PM (4q5tP)

20 9-Melissa, God bless you sweetie, for going into the fray. A displaced Texan is praying hard for y'all.

Posted by: moki at September 05, 2011 05:59 PM (dZmFh)

21 17-no, Central Texas begins at Waco, and "ends" near San Antonio. This area is in the middle of Central Texas, near Austin. It's about 170 miles south of DFW. It was gorgeous country before the fires, so I pray it recovers quickly.

Posted by: moki at September 05, 2011 06:03 PM (dZmFh)

22 Melissa, I'll buy ya a beer.

Posted by: mpurinTexas, Evil Conservanatrix, supports Rick Perry, bitch at September 05, 2011 06:07 PM (J4Pnx)

23 Lots and lots of prayers for Texas today. God bless Texas!

Posted by: Nora at September 05, 2011 06:09 PM (VxqUc)

24 I'd take ya up on it too mpurin

Posted by: Melissa In Texas at September 05, 2011 06:10 PM (OPqtj)

So this is around Bastrop or east.

21 goes north of Dime Box and into Bryan/College Station

I gotta call my cousins up there...

Posted by: TexasJew at September 05, 2011 06:10 PM (+cOEs)

26 Jesus, all I can hear is Stevie Ray Vaughn playing "The Sky is Burning" and think of my friends out that way. I hope they can manage to get it under control and out soon.

God speed ya'll.

Posted by: Gmac at September 05, 2011 06:10 PM (HtokB)

27 Prediction: Perry wont be at the debate Wednsday. No way these fires can be controlled by then. It's an MSDNC/Pollutico debate so it doesnt matter anyway.

Posted by: F*cking Magnets.. How do they work? at September 05, 2011 06:11 PM (Inklh)

28 God bless y'all. Stay safe.

Posted by: no good deed at September 05, 2011 06:12 PM (mjR67)

29 Perry on the situation: "'I'm not paying attention to politics right now," he said. "There will be plenty of time for that. People's lives and their possessions are at stake, and that's substantially more important."

Posted by: Lauren at September 05, 2011 06:15 PM (Lm/fR)

30 Praying for those in Texas, especially any morons/ettes! Stay safe, and keep us updated on what's going on.

Posted by: Theresa D., TPT--SCOAMF is one and done! at September 05, 2011 06:16 PM (Zgfnd)

Melissa:

So is this centered in the Lost Pines?

That place is a tenderbox during a severe drought, with all the ground litter and hilly terrain.

Posted by: TexasJew at September 05, 2011 06:16 PM (+cOEs)

32 But the east coast got some rain & wind last week. Quick! Let's all hunker down over the tv for wall-to-wall coverage for four straight days!!1!1!!

Stay safe fellow shitkicking Texas morons. You're all the best.

Yes, I'm picking favorites. Deal.

Posted by: lu at September 05, 2011 06:16 PM (0H9DJ)

33 Obama is a stuttering clusterf*ck of a miserable failure.

Posted by: steevy at September 05, 2011 06:19 PM (fyOgS)

34 I've been in these (and evacs) here in San Diego. It's serious, get out - take what's important, and my prayers are with you

Posted by: Frank G at September 05, 2011 06:21 PM (1rPxL)

Shit my 11 year old daughter is going to a doctor visit just south of Leander on Friday, off 183.

Not good.

That entire area is on fire, I hear.

Posted by: TexasJew at September 05, 2011 06:22 PM (+cOEs)

36 Perry lied, while people fried.

Posted by: cvb at September 05, 2011 06:24 PM (Ud5ks)

37 Many prayers for Texas and rain.

Posted by: ChristyBlinky at September 05, 2011 06:25 PM (fNdyx)

38 Melissa, reporting from the front! Well done. I do wish that folks would try to give us the coordinates of their photos approx. origin (lat., long.), if they have a way to determine that, as I like to Google Earth these kinds of things and check the terrain and street view and all of that other armchair adventurer stuff. Wishing rain for all you no-mess-with.

Posted by: Errol at September 05, 2011 06:27 PM (d2AYO)

39 Should I be calling mi familia in Pflugerville to check on them?

Posted by: MissTammy at September 05, 2011 06:27 PM (SsG4J)

Show on History starting tomorrow at 8 pm Eastern "Targetting Bin Laden"

At least one snippet of an Obama interview. Ugh

Posted by: buzzion at September 05, 2011 06:27 PM (GULKT)

41 You KNOW who this hurts the most, right?

Posted by: The Quail Darth Cheney won't get to shot at September 05, 2011 06:28 PM (/O44N)

42 We are pretty sure my brother lost his home in Bastrop, he lived at ground zero of this thing. My mom was evacuated from Smithville, and they evacuated the Smithville hospital where she works. She said the black smoke was just billowing over the town, and they thought the fire would jump the Colorado river. She said it was really touch and go. However, the wind died down tonight and they let her go home. Lots of her friends have lost their homes. Please pray the winds stay died down tomorrow. Lots of people still in harm's way.

Perry belongs in Texas.

Posted by: Stormy70 at September 05, 2011 06:29 PM (/nPH/)

43 La Nina years are especially hard on TX. They typically bring drier winter/spring and hot summers. The good thing about summer, despite the oppressive heat we've had this year, are the usual light winds. But with fall approaching, the winds will be picking up like yesterday and today. With low relative humidity values, high winds, and tinderbox dry fuels all around, a simple spark from a car, lawnmower, a stray cigarette, etc., can start a fire that quickly burns out of control. Unfortunately, there are only two ways out of a drought like this. One is through extended rainfall, but that doesn't typically happen until Nov/Dec here. September and October are usually pretty dry months for rainfall. The other is with a tropical cyclone, which solves the drought/fire issue but just replaces them with flooding and other storm damage.

Either way, it's going to be a tough fall based on long-range forecasts but we'll live through it. Thoughts are with those who have already lost their homes.

Posted by: Jon in TX at September 05, 2011 06:30 PM (lRqIF)

44 Posted by: Stormy70 at September 05, 2011 10:29 PM (/nPH/)

Will be praying for you and yours, Stormy!

Posted by: MissTammy at September 05, 2011 06:30 PM (SsG4J)

45 Miss Tammy, yes call your family in Pflugerville. There were several subdivisions evacuated yesterday or today. About 50 acres on fire.

Posted by: WarmMountain at September 05, 2011 06:34 PM (WiL57)

46 It's not just Central Texas

WUnderground fire map of Texas

East Texas is on fire, too. And Magnolia Texas is where the RenFest happens, so there are gonna be some upset knights and wenches.

This is pretty much the parts of the state that didn't burn earlier in the summer.

Your food prices will be higher - farms are gone, ranches are killing their cattle because there's nothing to feed them. Iowans are sending us hay.

Per khou (houston tv station): Texas is enduring its worst drought since the 1950s, and this latest blaze is among at least 64 that have started in the state in the past two days.

Posted by: Less at September 05, 2011 06:37 PM (PGXeZ)

47 Keep Austin Weird...so they say.

Posted by: sTevo at September 05, 2011 06:39 PM (VMcEw)

48 47-there are too many dems there for it to ever be sane. That and Jorge's everclear margarita's.

Posted by: moki at September 05, 2011 06:40 PM (dZmFh)

49 Brush Clearing can be hazardous.

Posted by: sTevo at September 05, 2011 06:43 PM (VMcEw)

50 Posted by: WarmMountain at September 05, 2011 10:34 PM (WiL57)

Thanks, calling now! Better call the bunch in Greenville and Paris, too, if EASTAS is burning.

Posted by: MissTammy at September 05, 2011 06:45 PM (SsG4J)

51 It's scary. Talked to my family in Dripping Springs and Wimberly and Cedar Park and Leander......it's not terribly far away from them. God look after them.

Posted by: Texas T at September 05, 2011 06:46 PM (OtTVf)

52 Less... great link! Thank you! I have family all over Texas.

Posted by: Melissa In Texas at September 05, 2011 06:46 PM (OPqtj)

53 Give Obama a few trillion, and he'll focus like a laser on stopping these fires. What's so funny?

Posted by: Boston12GS at September 05, 2011 06:46 PM (hvrPG)

54 We are on pins and needles over here in SAT, since it is the driest we have seen in .... well since before I was born. Hate to say this but it is only going to get worse. We think the drought will continue for at least another year, maybe two more. Pray for at least two hurricanes this fall to hit. (Sounds terrible I know)

Posted by: San Antonio Rose at September 05, 2011 06:47 PM (0DAK+)

55 But the east coast got some rain & wind last week. Quick! Let's all hunker down over the tv for wall-to-wall coverage for four straight days!!1!1!!

Stay safe fellow shitkicking Texas morons. You're all the best.

Yes, I'm picking favorites. Deal.

Posted by: lu at September 05, 2011 10:16 PM (0H9DJ)

Jeez, lu, you aren't calling for network reporters to go to Texas, are you? Aren't the fires disaster enough??

Posted by: Oldcat at September 05, 2011 06:51 PM (CN+Qv)

56 Oklahoma has had just enough rain that we're not in quite as bad a situation over most of the state, but we've still had a series of fairly nasty fires.

Some of the western sections are just as bad as Texas; I think if someone saw an idiot throw a cigarette butt of their window there'd be a shooting.

Posted by: Firehand at September 05, 2011 06:51 PM (kCows)

57 Oklahoma has had just enough rain that we're not in quite as bad a situation over most of the state, but we've still had a series of fairly nasty fires.

Some of the western sections are just as bad as Texas; I think if someone saw an idiot throw a cigarette butt of their window there'd be a shooting.

Posted by: Firehand at September 05, 2011 10:51 PM (kCows)

Good for you. The vast majority of the California wildfires are started by arson.

Posted by: Oldcat at September 05, 2011 06:53 PM (CN+Qv)

58 I can see the Leander fire from the top of my place (near Lago Vista, TX). Drove towards to Cedar Park (N of Austin) and took a couple pics. It's been a couple crazy days. Friends of ours lost their place in Bastrop and my bro-in-law's property is likely gone as well.

Posted by: Scott in Austin at September 05, 2011 06:53 PM (DVwzc)

59 I'll pitch in for a round of beers, if we want to have a meetup in the Austin area sometime. Looks like we have a few folks in the area.

Posted by: Scott in Austin at September 05, 2011 06:55 PM (DVwzc)

60 Pflugerville bunch are safe for now. Easties not answering phone, so they may have evacuated, but they would generally go to Shreveport in any emergency, but that route isn't looking any too safe.

Posted by: MissTammy at September 05, 2011 06:59 PM (SsG4J)

Hate to say this but it is only going to get worse. We think the drought will continue for at least another year, maybe two more. Pray for at least two hurricanes this fall to hit. (Sounds terrible I know)

Posted by: San Antonio Rose at September 05, 2011 10:47 PM (0DAK+)

------

No. It doesn't sound terrible. I know what it's like to have it so brutally dry for a long time, and when it gets like that you'll take moisture any way you can get it......even if you have to take a beating along with it.

My prayers are with you guys....my heart goes out to you.

I pray the drought breaks and ends soon. Ya'll have endured enough already.

Posted by: CMaJH at September 05, 2011 07:05 PM (riffu)

62 Liberals are trying to pin the blame for this on budget cuts that didn't happen:

http://tinyurl.com/TXFires

Posted by: Lawrence Person at September 05, 2011 07:09 PM (eRpHv)

63 Melissa - that Weather Underground map is pretty awesome, I think I'm just gonna keep a tab open on that for a while.

And San Antone Rose - my sister and I were talking the hurricane issue a few weeks ago. Yeah, we'll get one, and it will be good - but since the trees are SO weakened from drought, the damage of any wind storm will be worse - these trees are ready to blow over given the slightest chance. I've seen Houston be all brown by late August - but always just the grass. Not the trees. It's freaky to drive around and see how many trees are dying here.

Posted by: Less at September 05, 2011 07:10 PM (PGXeZ)

64 I have a few friends who are waiting to hear about the status of their homes. In East Texas, there are several fires near my alma mater. The one in Magnolia is 25min away from here. Prayers for everyone affected by the fires, especially those in Central and East Texas.

Posted by: Miss80sBaby at September 05, 2011 07:12 PM (o2lIv)

65 56 Oklahoma has had just enough rain that we're not in quite as bad a situation over most of the state, but we've still had a series of fairly nasty fires.

Some of the western sections are just as bad as Texas; I think if someone saw an idiot throw a cigarette butt of their window there'd be a shooting.

Posted by: Firehand at September 05, 2011 10:51 PM (kCows)

------

Yeah, the little bits of rain have been glorious....and the cooler temps today are a big "aaaah" aren't they.

Our neighbors to the south have had it much worse though. Hope they get some relief soon. We all need some of those tropical storms to come up and rain for days.

Posted by: CMaJH at September 05, 2011 07:13 PM (riffu)

66 Sorry Oldcat that was snark that went awry w/my use of the present tense.

I was mocking the coverage of Irene and the lack of coverage re these fires.

If Twitter and this blog didn't cover it, we would have no clue WTH was even going on.

Posted by: lu at September 05, 2011 07:14 PM (0H9DJ)

67 I'm north of Austin in Temple/Belton. North Fort Hood is burning as is northern Coryell county, but we have been fortunate so far. If anyone needs a place to stay, we have a guest room and are pet friendly

Posted by: Michele at September 05, 2011 07:15 PM (s0Jc3)

68 All I can do here is throw up some prayers. God, please care for these good people, Amen.

Posted by: Oldsailor's poet at September 05, 2011 07:17 PM (ZDUD4)

69 I live in Pflugerville. We had a couple of small fires yesterday, about the same time the Bastrop fire started, I think. It was scary watching the life flight choppers pick up water from the lake and dump and come RIGHT back (within a minute or two). That was the first indication that we had that the fire was close. It's all good here now, though. We do have friends in Leander that are worried, and the parents of a friend of mine live near Bastrop, but they're north of the fire, so they should be ok.

Thanks for all the prayers and warm fuzzies, everyone. There are plenty of people in the Lone Star state who need them right now.

Posted by: BethW at September 05, 2011 07:18 PM (gcRbW)

>> I'm north of Austin in Temple/Belton

Hi neighbor.

Posted by: Dave in Texas at September 05, 2011 07:21 PM (PjVdx)

71 Bet the libs are all talking about how Texas deserves it. Lousy traitors.

Posted by: katya, the designated driver at September 05, 2011 07:23 PM (44b3v)

72 Hi Dave... I read your stuff a lot - I'm a former soldier as is my husband

Posted by: Michele at September 05, 2011 07:23 PM (s0Jc3)

Hey Scot in Austin, I'm over on Nameless Road just north of Jonestown. Can't see the Leander fire from where we are - just the smoke. Looks like that one is far enough east to not be a problem. We've been pretty antsy all weekend but most of the fires have been south of us (although the fire in Liberty Hill had us worried yesterday). We've been packing stuff out to the travel trailer and had it ready to scoot in case we got an evac call. So far we've been fortunate.

Pictures from Bastrop looks like Dante's Inferno though....hope like hell the wind dies down tonight.

Posted by: roadroach at September 05, 2011 07:27 PM (Egaz2)

74 Texas Forest Service Fire Activity

This map includes fire name, county, start date, acres, and percentage contained for each individual fire.

Posted by: Miss80sBaby at September 05, 2011 07:30 PM (o2lIv)

>> Hi Dave... I read your stuff a lot - I'm a former soldier as is my husband

Thank you both, for your service to our nation.

Posted by: Dave in Texas at September 05, 2011 07:32 PM (PjVdx)

76 My brother lives just outside Wimberley off the road to Kyle. He says the fires aren't anywhere around his place, but keep them in your prayers, please.

Posted by: huerfano at September 05, 2011 07:37 PM (kD+se)

77 Hi Miss80sBaby. At least the winds have calmed down. Have a feeling you are close by. Have lurked for many years. Sure I'll go back into hiding. If anyone is close to the fires, check out radioreference dot com... not close to figuring out tinyurl stuff. Real time scanner. Very strange hearing the names of roads and the fact you know people that live on them when it comes across as "structure fully involved". Many of my employees evacuated. Thoughts and prayers with everyone.

Posted by: pachegirl at September 05, 2011 07:39 PM (7qIwj)

78 North Ft. Hood? There are little towns around there called Oglesby, McGregor, and Leon Junction. Any fire around there?

How close to Waco?

Posted by: rdbrewer at September 05, 2011 07:45 PM (OnoD1)

79 I need to get outside a little more often - thank God the winds have almost COMPLETELY died down in my neck of the woods (NW Austin/Travis County). Hope the same can be said for the rest of the area.

Posted by: roadroach at September 05, 2011 07:46 PM (Egaz2)

80 Stay safe TX morons, I know what you are going through.

Posted by: mpfs, TPT at September 05, 2011 07:47 PM (3TjSM)

81 If anyone finds a link to maps of current fire locations, throw it up.

Posted by: rdbrewer at September 05, 2011 07:53 PM (OnoD1)

82 Wishing you a safe night from Arizona-

Posted by: poljunkie at September 05, 2011 07:55 PM (XuiJf)

83 What the fuck. I just looked on the Wunderground map, and there's a fire in Conroe. That's barely 15 miles north of me. You could liberally call Conroe part of the Houston metropolitan area. This shit is worse than I imagined.

Posted by: Oily Taints at September 05, 2011 07:55 PM (TUax9)

84 Just took a quick walk outside (Pflugerville). No wind. 73 degrees. Beautiful night. Looked to the SSE (toward Bastrop). Couldn't tell if I could see the glow of the fire or if it was the lights of a town between me and the fire. Local tv stations are running scrolling messages during shows, saying who is being evacuated and how much of the fires are contained. (Just saw that Steiner Ranch fire is 25% contained and was caused by power lines. Spicewood fire jumped containment- 40% contained now. )

Posted by: BethW at September 05, 2011 07:56 PM (gcRbW)

85 77 Hi Miss80sBaby. At least the winds have calmed down. Have a feeling you are close by. Have lurked for many years. Sure I'll go back into hiding. If anyone is close to the fires, check out radioreference dot com... not close to figuring out tinyurl stuff. Real time scanner. Very strange hearing the names of roads and the fact you know people that live on them when it comes across as "structure fully involved". Many of my employees evacuated. Thoughts and prayers with everyone.

Hello, pachegirl!

I'm hoping for a tropical storm that actually delivers rain (instead of just overcast skies and high winds) to our entire state.

Posted by: Miss80sBaby at September 05, 2011 07:56 PM (o2lIv)

86 If anyone finds a link to maps of current fire locations, throw it up.

Posted by: rdbrewer at September 05, 2011 11:53 PM (OnoD1)

Somebody posted this earlier.

http://tinyurl.com/3oqzevv

Posted by: Oily Taints at September 05, 2011 07:57 PM (TUax9)

87 rdbrewer- here's an interactive map that is just terrifying. The gray and black are smoke cover.

Posted by: BethW at September 05, 2011 07:59 PM (gcRbW)

88 Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.

Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.

Amen.

Please send Texas a foot of rain tomorrow. Please, I implore.

Posted by: Derak at September 05, 2011 07:59 PM (2ojps)

89 Stay safe my fellow Texas Morons!

And yes, I saw one idiot on Facebook laughing about Perry's "Rain Prayer" and saying that the drought was proof God had it out for him.. Of course, they are atheist, so its more than ironic..

(BTW, it did rain in DFW for the next two days after he prayed, ha!)

Posted by: JarvisW at September 05, 2011 08:00 PM (8yPsP)

I have a home down on the gulf and as much as I would hate to lose it, would gladly give it up to give a bit of relief to the rest of the state...

Posted by: pachegirl at September 05, 2011 08:02 PM (7qIwj)

91 78 North Ft. Hood? There are little towns around there called Oglesby, McGregor, and Leon Junction. Any fire around there?

How close to Waco?

Two fires near Killeen. Two in Coryell County, with one in Jack Mountain and the other in Horseshoe Bend.

Five fires between Fort Worth and Waco.

Posted by: Miss80sBaby at September 05, 2011 08:03 PM (o2lIv)

92 86 If anyone finds a link to maps of current fire locations, throw it up.
Posted by: rdbrewer at September 05, 2011 11:53 PM (OnoD1)

Texas Forest Service Fire Activity

Posted by: Miss80sBaby at September 05, 2011 08:04 PM (o2lIv)

93 Try this link, http://bit.ly/psRM8X It's the interactive map for the WeatherUnderground site, posted earlier in this thread (bump to top, if you please). It's the best one I've found so far.

Posted by: Scott in Austin at September 05, 2011 08:05 PM (DVwzc)

94 Just texted a buddy of mine who works for the Houston Fire Department, but volunteers up north near where I live. There's a wildfire about 40 miles north of downtown Houston, and my friend says it's massive but that the local fire department are slowly containing it.

Posted by: Oily Taints at September 05, 2011 08:06 PM (TUax9)

95 Wow! I keep seeing the ones on the news. but they didnt talk about how MANY there are!!

Posted by: JarvisW at September 05, 2011 08:08 PM (8yPsP)

96 yeah... ignore my link... it's broken. It was to the weather underground site, anyway.

Posted by: BethW at September 05, 2011 08:09 PM (gcRbW)

97 what caused all the fires? Lightning?

Posted by: Chris at September 05, 2011 08:11 PM (mBZNv)

Patti Bader, founder of Soldiers Angels and Toby Nunn, director of operations for SA, both had to evacuate their homes yesterday. Patti's son either lost his home or it was damaged by the fire. Both he and Toby showed up today to help the firemen in any way they can.

Would that more people had the sense to do this. Evacuate the loved ones, then return to help. You don't need to be a firefighter to dig a firebreak, carry equipment, fetch a bottle of water, make sammiches, etc.

Posted by: Chuck Z at September 05, 2011 08:13 PM (OITDh)

Our family ranch is in Limestone County, east of Waco. Limestone and Freestone County burned yesterday. Today, it's Bosque and Leon Counties on fire. You hear the most about Bastrop, because it is the biggest and is near the capitol, but other parts of Texas are burning, too. It came well within a mile of my house yesterday, and every major road leading away was blocked. I don't know where I would have tried to get through, because you really should not take the back ranch roads and county roads in fire situations if you can help it. The wind kept changing direction, but the whole county seemed to be out helping. Anyone with a tractor was plowing firebreaks, some within yards of the flames. It jumped two major roads, but they held the line on two more. Somewhere around 6000-8000 acres burned as far as I can tell, although the last published report I saw said 3500, which is nonsense. Still smoldering. Seemed to be caused by downed power lines, as drought-damaged trees collapsed in the high winds.

Pray for rain. We're mostly rural around here, ranchers and farmers. Stock tanks are dry. Pasture is dead. Rolled and baled hay is burning before your eyes. Cattle auctions have been running 24 hrs a day in any community that has the facilities, and it would take weeks to make a dent in the stock. You are watching the flames, but you also are seeing the death of the Texas cattle industry.

Posted by: texette at September 05, 2011 08:14 PM (GteMI)

100 97 what caused all the fires? Lightning?

Posted by: Chris at September 06, 2011 12:11 AM (mBZNv)

No, it hasnt rained here in ages! They get started all sorts of ways. Trains, idgits burning garbage on the windiest of days, idgits throwing ciggs out the window, idgits not controlling campfires...

Trains and IDGITS! in otherwords...

Posted by: JarvisW at September 05, 2011 08:16 PM (8yPsP)

101 Chris, at least one of them (the Spicewood fire) had something to do with power lines. I can't find anywhere that says what triggered the Bastrop fire.

FYI- the Bastrop fire has jumped the Colorado River twice as well as a highway or two. Not good.

Posted by: BethW at September 05, 2011 08:20 PM (gcRbW)

102 Thanks. There's a fire about a mile from my buddy's ranch.

Posted by: rdbrewer at September 05, 2011 08:20 PM (OnoD1)

103 Okay, a couple of the fire maps I've looked at don't exactly match up. One shows a fire near my friend's ranch, and the other doesn't.

Posted by: rdbrewer at September 05, 2011 08:22 PM (OnoD1)

104 We are driving from So. CA to Houston in about a week. Which routes should we avoid? Has I-10 been affected?

Posted by: Aunt Cranky at September 05, 2011 08:22 PM (aibIg)

105 BethW, your link didn't work for me.

Posted by: rdbrewer at September 05, 2011 08:22 PM (OnoD1)

106 US Drought Monitor

Majority of our state is D4 (Exceptional), which is the highest level.

Posted by: Miss80sBaby at September 05, 2011 08:23 PM (o2lIv)

107 I just drove by there... from the Rio Grande Valley by the east side of Austin on my way home to DFW... the smoke was not as close as in these pictures.. but massive and very sad to see. Traffic was heavy and saw many a load of cattle or horses being moved to safer areas.

Hang in there and prayers that soon it will be brought under control.

Posted by: Yip in Texas at September 05, 2011 08:24 PM (Sh+fu)

108 People in the Central Texas area may want to sign up for mobile notifications / updates via capcog.org site: http://wireless.capcog.org/ENS/PhoneMap.aspx?NewUser

Posted by: Scott in Austin at September 05, 2011 08:25 PM (DVwzc)

109 Another issue which may be interesting to you: the grass in pastures is so dry, that you try to minimize driving on it so as not to start a fire. I've seen more old-fashioned cowboyin' this year than I've seen in the last 40. Yesterday, scenes of cowboys on horses herding cattle against a backdrop of flames and smoke were ironically cinematic.

Posted by: texette at September 05, 2011 08:28 PM (GteMI)

110 rdbrewer, saw this via FB crossposting requests, in case you need to place livestock from your friends ranch: PLEASE RE-POST ASAP!!!! Via Codie Burress: > "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" PLEASE RE-POST ASAP!!!! - Margaret Creamer - Eilene

Posted by: Scott in Austin at September 05, 2011 08:33 PM (DVwzc)

111 Aunt Cranky,.... it's north of 10 by a good bit right now, but the problem is... EVERYTHING is so dry and right now the winds are up that it could all change, even by the time you are enroute. Hopefully in a few days they'll have a handle on this and knock it down a bit.... because if not for the firefighters, it will go on and on,, there is no rain forecast for two weeks out.....

Posted by: Yip in Texas at September 05, 2011 08:42 PM (Sh+fu)

112 Scott, you guys exemplify being American. God bless you and yours.

Posted by: Rex Harrison's Hat at September 05, 2011 08:43 PM (SjWjf)

113 Thanks Yip! Life had to pick the perfect time for us to have to relocate back for a while.

Posted by: Aunt Cranky at September 05, 2011 08:44 PM (aibIg)

114 My mother was evacuated yesterday from Tahitian Village in Bastrop. She's safe and as of this morning her home is still standing, but many of the surrounding homes are not. Looking at the fire map, I find it hard to believe any homes are standing in Tahitian Village or Colo Vista. This afternoon water dropped from aircraft was picked up on the weather radar, and the wild fires' plume can be seen from NASA's satellites, it's that massive

Someone asked about posting links to current fire locations. These fires can grow and move quickly in these dry, low humidity and windy conditions. Stay vigilant where ever you are in Texas!

Currently it's not safe to return to the evacuated areas. Small fires may come back from the embers. The cause of the fires is unknown, but the Bastrop County Complex fire is believed to be the combination of three separate fires in the area, which combined and began growing at an extremely fast pace leaving very little time to react. It moved into the county's largest sub division within a couple hours catching many off guard.

Some asked if the fires were caused by lightening. We can only pray for a thunderstorm at this point. My brother, a local fireman, explained that a simple exhaust spark from a passing vehicle can ignite a fire in these conditions.

I heard Gov. Perry say this evening that it will take FEMA until Wednesday to arrive. He's requesting (again) a federal disaster declaration. He also said it's a time to set aside politics. In the mean time, neighbors are helping neighbors; and, as Gov. Perry concluded, we'll pick up the pieces and rebuild, which is what we do here in Texas.

Posted by: Phil in Texas at September 05, 2011 09:12 PM (Sb4ot)

115

...you are also seeing the death of the Texas cattle industry. texette

The farmers here in north Alabama are sending hay to Texas. It should be headed to the D/FW area very soon. We've had more than enough cuttings this year. The local radio station said donations for hay are being made from all over the state. Hang tuff, Texas. Your friends will help all we can.

Posted by: Case at September 05, 2011 09:23 PM (DYR2Q)

116 Thank you Alabama. Before the fires, roumd bales of corn stalks--corn stalks!--were going for up to $65 a bale.

Posted by: texette at September 05, 2011 09:38 PM (GteMI)

117

That's round bales. I get excited hearing about good hay coming from Alabama. Thank you again.

It takes a long time to build a good herd. Some of the better-off ranchers are shipping their best breeding stock up north out of state for the time being to pasture.

Posted by: texette at September 05, 2011 09:41 PM (GteMI)

118 71 Bet the libs are all talking about how Texas deserves it. Lousy traitors.

----

I looked on Huffington Post, and their story about the fire was actually a story about Perry. Followed by much commentary about Perry, as you might expect.

I looked on Democratic Underground, but there was no story about the fire.

Posted by: Alana at September 05, 2011 10:10 PM (/N/wg)

119

Very long time reader, very infnrequent commenter ( Hi Tiffany!) here,

My younger sister's home is also in Tahitian Village, as of this morning, it was still standig, though the Golf COUrse behind it was smoldering. Saw a Photo of the entrance to their subdivision, shortly after they left, it was a solid wall of fire, with flames and smoke reaching several hundreds of feet in the air. Very scary. She made the comment "you see this stuff happening in Cali every year and never think it could happen to you!"

Don't know more about their home yet, but, they have their live, at least, and the clothes on their backs, and are alway welcome here, in Canyon Lake!

Pray for rain!

Posted by: chefwes at September 05, 2011 10:28 PM (LZvJ0)

120 texette. The Texas Dept. of Agriculture has a HayHotline up. (877)429-1998. pleas get in touch with them if you need help. Most of the donated hay or that of reduced price is going through the Texas Dept. of Ag. They direct where it goes. I know all of the southeastern states are helping and I'm sure many other states are helping too. Don't think you are alone. We have all needed help at one time or another. Drought, floods, tornadoes, wild fires,etc. is all part of working the land.

Posted by: Case at September 05, 2011 10:29 PM (FD6YW)

121 We also had a smaller wildfire in the Stone Oak area of San Antonio today, for what it's worth. Rumor has it, it was caused by a SAWS ( San Antonio Water System) truck... ironic!

Posted by: chefwes at September 05, 2011 10:34 PM (LZvJ0)

122

Thank you, Case. I will pass that along. We, ourselves, will be ok for a while. The problem will be in the winter. Everybody is feeding their winter feed right now. And, hauling water because the tanks are gone. We are blessed in having two that still have water. Farming and ranching have always gone in cycles of good and bad, but it seems like this one is different. Maybe they all seem different. It is just so statewide this time. The help that ya'll are sending is what we used to send each other. I do know that it is heartwarming and bracing to know that others care.

A tornado took my last brick and mortar business this last April, and I'm still dealing with the insurance company on that one. We lost buildings and an old family home in the last round of fires this year. I could go on and on. Hell, the damned space shuttle exploded over my place. I had black helicopters taking off and landing all over the place. I would sort of like my life to be not quite so interesting for a while.

Posted by: texette at September 05, 2011 10:43 PM (GteMI)

123 Any federal aid forthcoming?

Back in May, when 4,000 square miles of northern and western Texas were burning, Obama told FEMA not to send any aid to Texas. He did, however, send aid to northern Mexico to deal with their wildfires.

http://bit.ly/rtpX4z

Posted by: Kathy from Kansas at September 05, 2011 10:55 PM (2AfqM)

124 Texette and others,

Sure am sorry to hear of your troubles. Hang in there, we all send our sympathy and best wishes your way.

Posted by: Kathy from Kansas at September 05, 2011 10:57 PM (2AfqM)

125

texette, I was raised in Texas and still have family there. I remember droughts so bad ranchers were burning needles off of cactus in west Texas just so their cattle would have something to eat. This problem is not just about Texas. If herds are sold off now, the price of beef will skyrocket in the near future. That's not good for any family trying to make ends meet in this bad economy.

Keep the faith, texette. I'm sure everything will work out with time. Gotta be some good luck around the corner.

Posted by: Case at September 05, 2011 11:02 PM (FD6YW)

126 Thanks, Kathy. I better get some sleep. I've been running on adrenaline. You guys are the best.

Posted by: texette at September 05, 2011 11:02 PM (GteMI)

127 Case, I've seen that, using a blowtorch or something like. I remember grinding cottonseed hulls and mixing up all manner of stuff just to give them something besides a little hay.

Posted by: texette at September 05, 2011 11:04 PM (GteMI)

128 If he can't handle this over the phone or email, then he can't handle much of the world.

How is he going to be in every place there is a crisis? He can't.

But he can lead from wherever he may be.

Sorry excuse.

Posted by: currently at September 05, 2011 11:09 PM (Hq2uB)

129 Is this the ONT?

I imagine it's not.

If it were a real ONT, I'd bet my boot would get sucked down in it, up to the thigh and I would lose in the muck and have to limp sideways to give honor to the spiky boot-heel that I still had left.

Posted by: Dolorus Eety at September 05, 2011 11:45 PM (tydO9)

130 currently,

Sounds like you don't know anything about what governors actually do in their job.

To be honest, I didn't have a very good grasp of it myself, until I read Tim Pawlenty's book, Courage to Stand, earlier this year. He had several big disasters to deal with when he was governor, and reading that book, I got a much better feel for how important governors really are in times of emergency, and how much rests on their shoulders. And yes, they do have to be there on the spot. You cannot manage an emergency in your state from afar.

The federal government may send help -- but it is the state, with the governor at its head -- who makes all the on-the-ground decisions. If you know much about our Constitution and our history, you should know that states existed first, and they later, voluntarily, set up a federal government to take care of a few basic things such as national defense. But the majority of government functions were quite clearly and deliberately meant to be managed by the states. Makes sense.

Posted by: Kathy from Kansas at September 05, 2011 11:53 PM (2AfqM)

131 So far, 129 posts but only with 24 mentions of praying (27 mentions total, but 3 doubled up). For a patriotic blog in a Christian country, this is pathetic. You get the impression that a lot of people these days are leaving the job of prayer to their politicians, which is a major problem, what with so many Muslims and Atheists around (also Asians, who knows who most of them pray to), especially when you consider this must be retribution and dissent is an extra burden in response to retribution. That's why Governor Perry is demonstrating real leadership by returning to the state in this emergency, unlike with Obama and Hurricane Katrina; there's a huge difference in commitment between the two examples, and this true leadership is bound to pay off.

Posted by: Rex the Wonder God at September 06, 2011 12:07 AM (vahvH)

132 How is it in the hills ENE of Kilene?

Posted by: Jean at September 06, 2011 12:24 AM (JjNG+)

133 Being on site was so important that perry was at a campaign event in South Carolina until noon.

Posted by: Winning at September 06, 2011 12:48 AM (+f7H2)

134 So far, 129 posts but only with 24 mentions of praying (27 mentions total, but 3 doubled up). For a patriotic blog in a Christian country, this is pathetic.

Hey, "Chrstian C. Nernny", incase you weren't counting (which I'm sure you couldn't) how 'bout the comment where I asked prayreful people HOW an agnostic dares to pray for a silly, stupid, lady Auntie.

Yeah, the writing of it was the answer.

Didn't have to be posted.

I am far more foolish to a loving God than this woman could ever be, because she has faith, and I don't.

I could NEVER do her cause any harm just because I can't think of her without laughing at her.

If God truly is a Father that loves all of his children, then he certainly knew about all of Aunt Maybelle's follies long before I ever was born and I'm certainly not going to be some sort of celestial tattle-tale if I can't hide a mental grin every time I think about the poor woman and try to pray for her.

So. What?

Would the likes of you, rather the likes of me, not pray for others?

Why?

It truly is the least I can do, and at that, I find it a trouble.

Do you really want to distract me and find out the most I can do?

Posted by: Dolorus Eety at September 06, 2011 12:49 AM (tydO9)

135 Kathy from Kansas:

I agree with you that the state and local governments are the first responders and we should not depend on the federal government. We most likely shouldn't even depend on them, but our own preparations mostly. We've seen this. Depends a lot on who runs the state or local government.

I do not agree that he has to be on site to handle the situation. Pawlenty will not be around to handle it anymore.

Governors do their job by putting the right people and resources in position. The rest is just a show.

Posted by: currently at September 06, 2011 12:56 AM (Hq2uB)

136 Governors do their job by putting the right people and resources in position. The rest is just a show.

Agreed.

But am I wrong in wanting Rick Perry to show up for "the rest of us" for the debate, even if it means he might slight "burning Texas"?

You guys are big, you guys are strong!

Hell, you're flippin' Texas!

Can you spare us some Perry?

Just for one day, even if he is distracted?

Didn't Perry try to talk about the drought/wildfire situation with Obama one time when his Golfiness touched down in the Lone Star State?

Posted by: Dolorus Eety at September 06, 2011 01:17 AM (tydO9)

137 Beancounting prayers on blog comments. Good grief.

Posted by: Winning at September 06, 2011 01:20 AM (TV3Gh)

138 Ron Paul releases new attack on Dingy Perry today in Iowa and NH AD - Reagan Republican or Gore Cheerleader

Posted by: Mel at September 06, 2011 02:27 AM (a0mPp)

139 138 If I pray, but don't blog about it: do I still get credit?

Posted by: Beefy Meatball at September 06, 2011 05:32 AM (bZ8J6)

Nope.

You probaly will get somehing like, ANTI-CREDIT if you have a blog but don't pray..

I dunno...

Posted by: Dolorus Eety at September 06, 2011 03:12 AM (tydO9)

140 Okay...

It's like the anti -Memorial Day Post from 4 yers ago on, Labor Day, just to show who's who...

Posted by: Dolorus Eety at September 06, 2011 03:27 AM (tydO9)

141 Goddaughter near San Antonio told me the fire near her house was started by... (prepare the irony meter...) a city water utility truck!! Idjit apparently didn't think about the catalytic converter being HOT!!

Posted by: Eric S at September 06, 2011 03:51 AM (GPwIb)

142 Just saw on the news that 32,000 acres have burned in central texas since 2 day ago.

Posted by: Lauren at September 06, 2011 03:57 AM (VKD8C)

143 Yikes, just walked outside my house in S. Austin. The smell of smoke is very heavy.

Posted by: Lauren at September 06, 2011 04:25 AM (VKD8C)

144 Same here, Lauren. It did make for a beautiful sunrise.
Beauty out of destruction and devastation. Go figure.
I am off Slaughter Lane. Where are you?
Continued prayers for all caught in the midst of this mess.

Posted by: Melissa In Texas at September 06, 2011 05:00 AM (c99bF)

145 Wow, we're really close, Melissa. I'm over by Hills Cafe.

Posted by: Lauren at September 06, 2011 05:48 AM (t1905)

146 Dolores, the best thing Perry can do right now is his job, which should serve as an excellent contrast to the Golfer-In-Chief. There will be other debates.

Posted by: lauraw at September 06, 2011 06:12 AM (n/qLo)

147 Melissa,

Do I know you from JOM?

Posted by: Sue at September 06, 2011 06:24 AM (RybmS)

148 Gov. Perry is calling on the Texas National Guard and our military stationed in Texas to aid wildfire containment (borrowing another page from Ron Paul's agenda for national security that Ronald Reagan endorsed as most valuable).

Obama's big ears are all the better to ignore the natural disaster in Texas, denying the Governor's request. Again, so much for sternly written letters directed to the White House.

Over a year ago, I was promoting Texas' need (and every State) to duplicate what California has (undoubtedly organized before the '60s cultural revolution), a State Guard that ONLY responds to that State's Governor for emergencies within that given State. It's what the original militias were all about, after all.

Posted by: maverick muse at September 06, 2011 08:28 AM (lpWVn)

149

Conditions are so dry, one house catches fire and the entire neighborhood goes up in flames. One neighborhood N183 has suffered multiple wildfires a couple weeks apart. These Texas wildfires are horrendous. So were the wildfires set by the illegal aliens that burned a major section of Arizona, followed by so-called "controlled blazes" set purposely by federal authorities (while the wildfires yet blazed) along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon that burnt out of control as well.

I don't know exactly what to think of the "cause" setting the Steiner Ranch neighborhood ablaze below massive powerlines that overheated. If powerlines overheat and cause wildfires in subdivisions, then again, WTF with zoning and developers choosing to ignore obvious endangerment of population centers? Those powerlines were functioning NW of Austin decades before that development was conceived. The same setting existed along North I-35 near Braker where massive powerlines run through the Gracey Woods subdivision and so many others built since the early 1980s.

Posted by: maverick muse at September 06, 2011 08:32 AM (lpWVn)

150 Just got a call from my parents. My dad and brother snuck back into their neighborhood in east Bastrop. Their house was just outside the "fire circle" on the map. No matter. Burned to the ground, everything gone. Very sad.

Posted by: Bender Bending Rodriguez at September 06, 2011 10:02 AM (1H47k)

151 Texas area fire photo collection: http://blogs.sacbee.com/photos/2011/09/wildfire-destroys-nearly-500-h.html

Posted by: Scott in Austin at September 06, 2011 10:23 AM (DVwzc)

152 We had heavy smoke this morning (o6oo) in Tyler. Mrs. EROWMER has asthma but not complaining. Texette is right on the money about our cattle industry dying. I guess PETA will be happy. Assholes. I think we need another hurricane along the lines of Ike, but not with the downed trees.

Posted by: EROWMER at September 06, 2011 11:11 AM (KJDwX)

153 Sue... dunno what JOM is

Lauren, we ARE pretty darn close.
Y'all gettin' more of the smoke? My allergies are kickin' my fanny, which is NOTHING compared to what these families affected by these fires are going through.

Posted by: Melissa In Texas at September 06, 2011 11:23 AM (c99bF)

154 Melissa, in the morning, elem school was a no-outside-recess day due to smoke. By the afternoon it had cleared up enough in LV to let them out. Also, looks like the Leander fire was arson. http://www.kvue.com/video?id=129309168&sec=551407

Posted by: Scott at September 06, 2011 05:37 PM (Q1UaJ)

Hide Comments | Add Comment | Refresh | Top

Comments are disabled. Post is locked.

154kb generated in CPU 0.2074, elapsed 0.3645 seconds.
64 queries taking 0.3257 seconds, 282 records returned.
Powered by Minx 1.1.6c-pink.