Two killed as Texas wildfires destroy nearly 400 homes

[News_Editor]

Two killed as Texas wildfires destroy nearly 400 homes

2011-09-06 02:14:44 GMT+7 (ICT)

AUSTIN (BNO NEWS) -- Two people were killed on Sunday as dozens of new wildfires broke out across Texas, destroying nearly 400 homes and forcing thousands to evacuate, officials said on Monday morning.

The largest of the new wildfires on Sunday broke out in Bastrop County where a huge fire burned more than 25,000 acres (10,100 hectares). It started in the Lost Pines area, northeast of Bastrop, and moved unchecked for at least 16 miles (25 kilometers) to the south and jumped the Colorado River twice.

"Reports indicate possibly 300 homes have been destroyed," a spokesperson for the Texas Forest Service said on Monday. The Circle D, K.C. Estates, Pine Forest, Colovista and Tahitian Village subdivision have been evacuated as heavy airtankers and single-engine airtankers are battling the fire.

In Smith County, near Gladewater, a 20-year-old woman and her 18-month-old daughter were killed on Sunday when a fast-moving fire covering some 1,000 acres (405 hectares) destroyed their trailer and at least five other homes. Ten homes were evacuated.

The second-largest fire which broke out on Sunday was located in Travis County, southeast of Spicewood, where more than 7,000 acres (2,832 hectares) have burned. A total of 20 homes were destroyed while 30 homes have been damaged.

Other large fires which broke out on Sunday are burning in Henderson County (5,000 acres / 2,023 hectares, three homes saved), Limestone County (3,000 acres / 1,214 hectares, one home destroyed and six saved), Fayette County (2,000 acres / 809 hectares, seven homes destroyed, Ruttersville evacuated), east of Lockhart, Caldwell County (1,000 acres / 404 hectares, six homes lost and 20 others saved), Colorado County (1,000 acres / 404 hectares, 40 homes threatened).

Other fires which broke out on Sunday, a total of 63, were all smaller than 1,000 acres (404 hectares) as of early Monday morning. But several of them have already destroyed dozens of homes, although there were no casualties.

In Travis County, a fire started just north of the Steiner Ranch subdivision, resulting in mandatory evacuations for more than 1,000 homes in the area. A Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System strike team responded, but at least 25 homes were reported to have been destroyed as of Monday.

Fifteen homes were also destroyed in Leon County as a result of a wildfire, while another fire in Hunt County also destroyed two homes. Hundreds of people have been evacuated in those areas as numerous homes are being threatened.

"The wildfire situation in Texas is severe and all necessary state resources are being made available to protect lives and property," Governor Rick Perry said. "I urge Texans to take extreme caution as we continue to see the devastating effects of sweeping wildfires impacting both rural and urban areas of the state. Our thoughts and prayers are with the first responders who are working around the clock to keep Texans out of harm's way, and with the families across our state who are threatened by these wildfires."

Texas is currently battling one of the worst fire seasons in state history. The dangerous conditions are caused by the ongoing drought and an overabundance of dead vegetation which burns easily. But the fires also intensified during the weekend due to windy conditions as a result of Tropical Storm Lee, which has since dissipated.

Since the beginning of wildfire season, local and state firefighters have responded to more than 20,900 fires that have destroyed more than 1,000 homes and burned more than 3.6 million acres (1.4 million hectares). Governor Rick Perry issued a disaster proclamation on December 21, 2010 and has reissued it nine times.

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