Nine Homes Destroyed And 154 Under Threat Of Texas Fire

Texas Fire
Photo Courtesy: UPI

BASTROP, Texas, Oct. 15 (UPI) — The Hidden Pines Fire in Bastrop, Texas grew to 4,200 acres and now threatens 154 homes.

The fire started Tuesday, and immediately forced 20 families to evacuate from their homes.

Texas Gov. Greb Abbott declared a state of disaster in Bastrop County Thursday morning.

A Bastrop County judge also told KVUE that nine area homes have now been destroyed by the fire and that another 16 have potentially been destroyed as well.

Data from the Texas A&M Forest Service, however, does not list any homes as “lost.”

Homes along various roads in the county were reported evacuated as of 6 a.m. Thursday. In addition, the Smithville Independent School District said three of its bus routes would not run because of safety concerns. The Bastrop County Office of Emergency Management also opened a Facebook event page to post updates for those affected.

On the page, Wimberley resident Wynne Galpin said “This is so scary, especially in the night hours. Will be following this page all night.”

On Wednesday, Bastrop County Sheriff Terry Pickering said evacuations have proceeded smoothly but urged local drivers to keep roads moving after reports surfaced of onlookers slowing down to see the fire. He said 12 to 15 agencies including ones from Houston and Dallas will join the effort to fight the flames.

Forest Service data shows the fire has spread to 4,200 acres and is 15 percent contained. The agency said the terrain firefighters are dealing with is characterized by fuel and dense brush, which together with heavy winds Tuesday managed to spread the flames.

The fire threatened to damage “$500 million worth of real estate” at the MD Anderson research facility, according to Bastrop County Emergency Management director. The facility, which was evacuated Tuesday afternoon, remained unharmed thanks to firefighters’ work.

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