Texas Wildfires spreading like... Wildfires

Y'all hear about how bad the wildfires are getting down here in Texas?

Big time evacuations three counties wide from what I'm told and various planes are roaring overhead (had some kind of giant prop plane by us) dropping retardant in a seemingly vain attempt to get it under control:
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?se...cal&id=8342579

What I didn't get to see in person though are the tiny fast spotter plane chased by a big ol' modified DC-10 (spotter swoops around and then dumps smoke over the spot he wants the DC-10 to swoop by and hit):
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/video?id=8347764

Even those whose homes are safe unfortunately can't go home due to concerns of "hot spots" flaring up again. I feel really bad for the families that have had their homes burned down, as they surely didn't have time before the evacuation notice to really save everything. A lot of stuff is just, well, stuff and your insurance will pay for the damages. But there are so many things you end up losing of great sentimental value.

It's scary and I wish the best for the entire state. They should've gotten some of that Pennsylvania rain I think

I hope everyone stays safe!

It's so scary and horrible. Too many extremes going on in this world these days! Floods, fires, no good! I wish Texas lots of fire relief vibes!

Saw some very frightening images from Austin - almost like the Four Horsemen were going to ride out of the smoke and flames!

My heart goes out to all the people and wildlife affected. that they're soon contained/extinguished.

I have seen a little... I can't imagine how scary that would be. Here's hoping that the fires are under control and out soon.

Bastrop alone has lost about 1400 homes. One man had just returned from serving another tour just to come home to his home being burned down.

It made me extremely sad.

Fort Hood has a fire that has been burning for the last 2 weeks almost and only 30% contained. I can't tell you how many thousands of acres have already burned. Fortunately, the fire is miles away from any housing area.

Praying for all of the people and pets in the path of the wildfires. Hope they can get it under control.

It's just horrific. Wildfires in Texas, flooding all over the east coast. It's all heartbreaking.



I did read on CNN (dated yesterday) that the Bastrop County complex wildfire has gone from 30% contained to 50% contained.

There are burned spots all along I-20 in Texas, starting at the Louisiana border. Some of them were just little ones, probably a cigarette flipped out, but some were pretty big and came pretty close to houses and other buildings. There is a big fire up north in East Texas, somewhere up by Jefferson, and that smoke is pretty thick down by I-20. I haven't been down to the Austin area in a couple of weeks, so I haven't seen that down there.

Is there a fire near Somerset? I have a friend there and I haven't heard from her in a couple of days.

I hope all this crazyness calms down soon

Originally Posted by Catkiki

Is there a fire near Somerset? I have a friend there and I haven't heard from her in a couple of days.

Click to expand...

I don't see any close to Somerset, which is southwest of San Antonio, if I have it right.

You can get full information on fires here:

Texas Fire Map

You can zoom in on the various fires, then click on them to see their location, status, etc.

The one I mentioned near Jefferson is some 5,000 acres and still not completely under control.

By the way, for anyone interested in history, Jefferson is one of the oldest and, at one time, largest cities in Texas. There was a time it was the largest city between St. Louis and San Francisco. At that time, the Red River was navigable by steamboat that far north, and virtually all slaves in East Texas come in through their port. Today it's kind of a sleepy backwater, with lots of antique shops, a nifty old hotel downtown, and not a lot more than that.

This is just craziness. Floods, fires, drought, etc. My heart goes out to the people who are in the line of the fires and who are suffering from drought. The whole thing is sad.

My GF lives in Belton, TX....they are suffering from drought and she's so worried about all the animals, too.