Breckenridge Destinations supports independent journalism. Click for great deals on vacation lodging in Breckenridge.
Texas Forest Service responds to 224 new fires in the past week
Firefighters outlined by the flames at the Waco Fire in Texas. PHOTO COURTESY MARY K. HICKS.
Major wildfires are burning all around Texas as summer winds down. Click on the map to visit the live interactive version at the Texas Interagency Coordination Center.
By Summit Voice
Sept. 14 update:
Weather may bring some relief to parts of the drought-stricken state
By Summit Voice
SUMMIT COUNTY — Texas Forest Service officials said Tuesday that, by their latest count, almost 2,000 homes have been destroyed by wildfires since Labor Day weekend in central and east Texas. In the past week, the agency has responded to a total of 127 fires burning on about 9,000 acres.
Since the holiday weekend, aircraft have flown for more than 1,800 hours and dropped more than 5.5 million gallons of water and retardant. Six heavy airtankers, three water scoopers, 15 single-engine airtankers, four C-130 MAFFS airtankers, 13 helicopters and 17 air attack aircraft and lead planes are being utilized. Eleven Texas Army National Guard Blackhawk and Chinook helicopters from San Antonio, Austin and Grand Prairie have been crucial in the fight as well.
The latest drought monitor shows 95 percent of the state in extreme drought, with 81 percent in exceptional drought . Seasonal outlooks continue to indicate drying throughout the fall, so the drought is expected to worsen.
Labor Day update:
SUMMIT COUNTY — With no relief in sight for drought-stricken Texas, new wildfires are erupting around the state, including the 6,600-acre Ranch Fire, in Palo Pinto County, which has destroyed at least 39 homes and several RVs. Another fire in Wise County is threatening 200 homes, and the Crab Prairie Fire has burned two homes. An overview of the fire is available at Inciweb.
About 80 percent of Texas is now classified as being under severe to extreme drought conditions and the long-term outlook calls for continued dryness, with above-normal temperatures at least through autumn. Wildfires have burned across 3.52 million acres in the state — the worst wildfire ever for the Lone Star state. Six of the state’s 10 largest wildfires burned in April 2011 and 20 of the largest 40 on record have burned during this year. More info online here.
Altogether, the Texas fires have burned 3,000 structures, including 679 homes.
Just in the past few days, the Texas Forest Service responded to 17 new fires burning on 4,146 acres, including new large fires in Walker, Briscoe, and Wise counties. In the past seven days Texas Forest Service has responded to 224 fires affecting 31,541 acres.
Explosive flames burn into the treetops at the Dos Amigos Fire in Texas. PHOTO: Texas Forest Service.
A tanker plane drops water on a Texas wildfire. PHOTO: Aero-Flite Inc.
Filed under: climate and weather, forest fires Tagged: | New Texas wildfires August 2011, Ranch Fire, Texas, Texas drought, Texas Forest Service, Texas wildfires 2011, Waco Fire, Wildfires
Arapahoe Basin supports independent journalism. Click to visit The Legend online.
Powder's falling at Monarch!! Have you reserved your spot yet?
Innovative energy underwrites coverage of energy stories.
Okay come on. Drought? What drought. Its just a short dry spell. If Texas wants Fed help Texas needs to get to Cantor and Bohner and form a special committee to see if this ‘alleged’ drought is as bad as it is being made to be. As far as the fires go, that is a states problem not a federal problem. The federal government does not need to fund a states rights problem. Cantor and Bohner need to clamp down on all this money flowing to Texas from the federal government.
Maybe the tornado victoms shouldnt receive any federal help either then. Please tell me you are not serious. Well, you know what, your right, from now on all states are on their own and get no federal help. No more help from natural disasters, terrorists attacks, earthquakes, nothing. Your right, lets not take care of our own, thats pointless.
You need to check your facts. On average Texas actually gives more to the federal treasury than in sent back in the form of federal aide every year. So if you really want to stop the money flowing back to Texas, you will actually be saving us some money, and hurting many of the other states who get money from that surplus.
Maybe you can believe the drought is real from animals that are seen in pastures with no grass, no water and plenty of grasshoppers. Skin and bones. People who haven’t checked their ponds are losing their livestock. I guess they don’t realize that these animals need to be fed right now not to mention that they need water too. I heard a rumor about cattle sale barns limiting the number of cattle one can bring to the sale. People who try to help these suffering animals are running out of places that will accept them. So I guess it will rain again some day. Now the wells are starting to sputter, There have been fires within 60 miles North of us and I saw the fire department send 3 trucks South of us this morning. I have been through the short dry spells before. This is now 2nd to the worst EVER documented! Texans are a tough bunch and used to being independent. Most don’t want the Feds in their business. There will always be those that need a little help. Don’t be so quick to judge. This dry spell may go into next year as well. Our hay season was lost after one very limited baling. Next year there may not be any forage. We will use everything we’ve stored to feed this winter.–Sorry for the book- I’m tired of seeing all these skinny horses and cows.
He didn’t mean it.
And we hear you. It is a terrible calamity for Texans. The saddest part is that droughts are the sort of calamity for which there is no response that can be rolled into a campaign.
I was praying for the tropical storm to take a left turn. But I don’t have much influence with the great Weatherman in the sky.
Michael, I got it, but next time, spell out in very small letters for the lip-readers that this is a sarcastic comment on Perry’s politics.
And by the way, Erica, Texans don’t send more money to the Federal Government than other states do. The oil in the ground underneath you does. And you Texans didn’t put it there.
Yeah, that’s some BS. What if this was your family and friends? Not to mention hurricane Katrina…If natural disaster is such a “state problem” then why is it my east Texas community and high school were right there to aid the Louisiana evacuees (and don’t give me a BS answer like “because it’s ‘East Texas’ I’m quite aware of my geography). You are being insensitive about this topic. It’s never truly a matter of “state” or “federal” issues (idk what you meant by “rights”), but instead disasters such as these should be humanity issues, with everybody pulling in to help, even if it’s just helping a neighbor evacuate or letting someone lodge with you until they figure out the next step. Like I said, put yourself in these peoples shoes, and think about what would help you rebuild your entire life from scratch before you go blabbing about how it’s not your problem or whatever. Karma is a bitch….
My guess is that first comment from Michael G is on the sarcastic side, intended as political commentary in the context of global warming politics and ideology.
I bet he wouldnt be as sarcastic if it was his house burning to the ground
I think its sad everyone. come on. Evidently he doesnt know how to read and he had someone writer that comment for him. If he was able to read, hmmm and understand, he would see on the news all the fires going on in Texas, the water bans, the dead trees, shrubs, lawns, low water levels at area lakes etc…. Maybe he needs to go back to schoo. And i like what Joel K. said… Why is Texas any different from other states? Maybe its discrimination.