WishingForWarmWeather Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 Not from the Bastrop Fire, unless it does something that would totally rewrite Texas history. If any other fires break out close to you, then that is what you should be concerned about. Okay, great. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Reimer Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 David, I'm going to try and get some shut eye. I should hear from Jeff early in the morning and will update here and 'locally' when needed. Same here. I've got someone that is gonna check in on the situation at about 5 AM and I'm planning to get up around 10-11 AM. It looks like the 'community' on my facebook page is doing a great job of answering questions in the mean time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baroclinic_instability Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 Fire weather forecasting is not easy. In fact it is very difficult...NWS offices and other private forecasters will have their hands full the next couple days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baroclinic_instability Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 Shows up well on multispectral imagery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Reimer Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 Looks like additional evacuation orders were given out around 3 AM for the Bastrop Fire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janetjanet998 Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 if you go to google earth...somebody chopped down the trees to spell a word out just north of Smithsville LUECKE Luecke Ryan Grove Thursday April 14, 2005 @ 05:49 PM (PDT) While playing with the new satellite view feature of Google Maps the other day, I came across this. Smack-dab in the middle of Texas some enterprising landowner has spelled “LUECKE” (his name) using hundreds and hundreds of trees. A little more Google searching told me that I wasn’t the first person to stumble across it. As a matter of fact, NASA noticed the oddity a long time ago and has been using it to calculate the ground area represented by a single pixel in photographs taken from space. http://wonko.com/post/luecke <BR clear=all> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Srain Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 SCP Fire Danger/Critical: ...PORTIONS OF CNTRL/ERN TX... NO CHANGES ARE NECESSARY FOR THE ONGOING CRITICAL DELINEATION LOCATED OVER PORTIONS OF CNTRL/ERN TX. TIGHT PRESSURE GRADIENT POSITIONED S OF SURFACE HIGH CENTERED OVER THE UPR MS VALLEY WILL AID IN SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS FROM 20-25 MPH. POTENTIAL FOR HIGH END GUSTS SHOULD BE LOWER TODAY AS NLY LOW-LEVEL SPEED MAX W OF TROPICAL DEPRESSION LEE SHIFTS EWD DURING THE AFTERNOON. GPS DERIVED PWAT IMAGERY SHOWS VALUES AOB 0.50 IN MOVING SWD ACROSS SRN KS/NRN OK AT 04Z...AND LATEST MODEL OUTPUT ADVECTS THIS DRY AIRMASS SWD THROUGH MUCH OF TX BY LATE AFTERNOON. WITH TEMPERATURES WARMING INTO THE 80S ACROSS CNTRL/ERN TX...MIN RH VALUES FROM 15-25 PERCENT APPEAR PROBABLE. THESE CONDITIONS COMBINED WITH ONGOING EXTREME/EXCEPTIONAL DROUGHT WILL FAVOR A CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER THREAT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#NoPoles Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 i'm assuming they have air tankers, and helicopters dropping on these fires? but i don't know where to find that info, or where to find out how far away they are calling up wildland fire teams to come in and help... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Srain Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 Update from Texas Forest Service: Wildfire Update – Sept. 5, 2011 Current situation: Texas Forest Service responded to at least 56 new fires Sunday that burned approximately 30,000 acres, including the following large fires: BASTROP COUNTY COMPLEX, Bastrop County. 14,000 acres, no containment. Heavy airtankers and single-engine airtankers assisted on this fire that started in the Lost Pines area just northeast of Bastrop. The fire has moved unchecked for at least 16 miles to the south and has jumped the Colorado River twice. The Circle D, K.C. Estates, Pine Forest, Colovista and Tahitian Village subdivision have been evacuated. Firefighters are trying to hold the fire at FM 2571. Reports indicate possibly 300 homes have been destroyed. STEINER RANCH, Travis County. 150 acres, no containment. The fire started just north of the Steiner Ranch subdivision. More than 1,000 homes are under mandatory evacuation in Steiner Ranch. At least 25 homes are reported lost. A Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System strike team responded. HENDERSON #495, Henderson County. 5,000 acres, unknown containment. Three homes were saved. #491, Limestone County. 3,000 acres, unknown containment. Six homes were saved and one was lost on this fire 20 miles east of Waco. DELHI, Caldwell County. 1,000 acres, unknown containment. Twenty homes were saved and six were lost on this fire east of Lockhart. BAILEY, Colorado County. 1,000 acres, unknown containment. This fast-moving fire threatened 40 homes near Columbus. Blackhawks, single-engine airtankers, and a heavy airtanker assisted. MOORE, Smith County. 927 acres, 5 percent contained. Ten homes were evacuated and five were lost on this fire burning on the Smith/Gregg County line. Two civilian fatalities were reported. #545, Upshur County. 500 acres, unknown containment. One hundred homes were saved; none lost. The fire is burning East of Gilmer. LUTHERHILL, Fayette County. 400 acres, unknown containment. The community of Ruttersville was evacuated. BONBIEW RANCH, Van Zandt County. 350 acres, unknown containment. Twenty homes were saved southeast of Canton. CLEMANIS, Upshur County. 400 acres, 85 percent contained. Twenty homes were saved. #543, Gregg County. 300 acres, unknown containment. Numerous homes were saved, none lost. #538, Harrison County. 200 acres, contained. One hundred fifty homes were evacuated in a trailer park east of Longview. #502, Nacogdoches County. 200 acres, unknown containment. More than a dozen homes have been evacuated, but none lost. #841, Houston County. 200 acres, unknown containment. Fifteen homes were threatened east of Crockett. PLEASANT GREEN ROAD, Gregg County. 150 acres, contained. Numerous homes evacuated and saved south of Longview. KENNEDY ROAD, Rusk County. 150 acres, unknown containment. Numerous homes threatened, one lost. HODDE, Travis County. 325 acres, contained. Two hundred homes were evacuated and saved east of Pflugerville. No homes reported lost. PETTYTOWN, Caldwell County. 200 acres, 90 percent contained. Twenty homes were saved east of Lockhart. OLD MAGNOLIA, Gregg County. 100 acres, unknown containment. No homes threatened. Two fuel tanks exploded. SOUTH SULPHER, Hunt County. 100 acres, 70 percent contained. Five homes were threatened and two were destroyed. #839, Leon County. 100 acres, unknown containment. Fifteen homes are reported lost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Srain Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 Morning e-mail from Jeff...(included the TFS update noted above)... Horrible Fire Weather Conditions for today. Red Flag Warnings are in effect until 1000pm tonight Yesterday, 56 large fires developed burning 30,000 acres with 2 fatalities. Weather Discussion: Winds are already gusty this morning and will only worsen as the pressure gradient between Lee and the cold front which swept off the coast last evening creates winds of 20-35mph this afternoon. A very dry air mass with dewpoints in the 40’s will spread southward and cover the entire region by late morning. This will drive afternoon RH to less than 15% across the entire region. Dry/dead fuels will support explosive fire growth. As seen yesterday, fires that develop will be fast moving and nearly unstoppable. Very dangerous crown fires are likely in pine and cedar areas resulting in fast forward spread (similar to the Bastrop fire). Fire lines will be breached by downstream spot fires in the strong winds along with crowning overrunning fire lines. Ground crews were unable to hold fire lines on Sunday with multiple breaches of their fire breaks. Have a fire plan if a fire approaches your location. If told to evacuate do so immediately, it will save your life! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#NoPoles Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 thanks for the continuing sitreps, steve! my employment in the past has been focused on post-fire ecosystem assessment and recovery monitoring...in the mojave desert, great basin, and colorado plateau...lots of open space and no people...in 2005 850,000acres of pristine desert habitat burned in the mojave, and will never recover...every time a fire burns in the desert, that ecosystem is now extinct...i can't imagine trying to handle huge complex fires in major populated areas... lives are more important than material possessions, which can be replaced...lives cannot be replaced...fires move quickly and spread erratically...do not wait until the last minute to leave...and do not think that if you stay behind you might be able to save your house with a puny garden hose...if a squadron of heavy air tankers can't stop the progress of a fire, you and your garden hose certainly won't!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msp Posted September 5, 2011 Author Share Posted September 5, 2011 the bastrop fire is so tragic... one of the most beautiful and unique areas in the state with the lost pines there. i stop every time on the way to san antonio. leon county fire now up to 3-4k acres as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janetjanet998 Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 some good news...the winds seem to have leveled off...15-25 gust to 30 here and there...but this is the same as overnight I think as Lee moves away the gradiant is weakening despite mixing during the day..so it seems to be a wash Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Srain Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 Fingers crossed as the Texas Fire sat imagery suggests so far no new large fires have broken out. That imagery does show fires in Bastrop and NE TX as well as one large fire in S Central Oklahoma...extreme caution is still advised as the afternoon hours seem to be when fire conditions can become far more conducive to rapid development... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janetjanet998 Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 New fire by the airport just showed live here http://www.kxan.com/generic/news/livestream-one-kxan also NEW FIRE!!!! Residents in the area of Liesure Lane and Hwy 21 and 1209 please evacuate now. There is a new fire. Please get to a safe location. Fire is running to the South. This a seperate fire....." from Bastrop County Office of Emergency Management http://www.facebook.com/TxStormChasers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Srain Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED FIRE WARNING TEXAS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TEXAS RELAYED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX 1220 PM CDT MON SEP 5 2011 THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS TRANSMITTED AT THE REQUEST OF THE BASTROP COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGER. A MANDATORY EVACUATION NOTICE HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING RESIDENCES IN THE CEDAR CREEK AREA OF BASTROP COUNTY... ...AREAS BETWEEN HIGHWAY 21 AND FM ROAD 1209...NEAR LEISURE LANE... AND NEAR AND TO THE SOUTHWEST OF UNION CHAPEL ROAD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janetjanet998 Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 new fire around ceder creek burning structures maybe even the high shcool Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Srain Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 E-mail update from Jeff: Extraordinary fire event in progress across much of Texas and will continue through tonight In the last 24 hours over 400 homes have burned, over 4,000 homes have been threatened, and over 6,000 residents displaced. Red Flag Warning conditions in progress at this time across the entire area with winds already sustained at 15-25mph with gust at or above 35mph. Air mass continues to dry and RH is already at or below 30-40% across the entire region. Ongoing fires not contained continue to burn rapidly southward with numerous spot fires developing downstream of the wind direction and our their western and eastern flanks. Fire lines continue to be overrun. Bastrop Fire: 25,000 acres burned. Fire is burning out of control requiring massive evacuations. 50% of Bastrop State Park burned overnight and the fire has now jumped HWY 71 and Hwy 95. Both HWY 21 and HWY 71 are closed until further notice. Several fixed wing aircraft along with Blackhawk helicopters are battling this fire from the air dropping both water and slurry. Ground crews are offering structure protection. The fire continues to exhibit large long lived crown runs making ground operations extremely dangerous. At least 350 homes have burned and several hundred more are threatened. The fire is 0% contained. Spicewood Fire: 7,000 acres now burned. 20 homes lost, 30 damages. TFS and multiple local departments responding. Austin Starflight is providing water drops from Lake Travis. Steiner Ranch Fire: 150 acres burned, 25 homes destroyed, 40 others damaged. Numerous homes have been evacuated. Fire is estimated to be 25% contained. A TFS strike team is on this fire. Fayette County Fire: 2,000 acres burning, 0% contained. Ruttersville is under a mandatory evacuation order. 7 homes lost. Colorado County: 1,500 acres burned just east of Columbus and N of I-10. Unknown containment. 40 homes threatened. Multiple heavy air tankers dropping water and slurry are working this fire along with TFS dozer crews to cut fire lines. Caldwell County: 1,000 acres burned. Fire is 10% contained. 20 homes threatened, 6 were lost. Response: National Guard helicopters are being used for water drops. Texas has enacted its mutual aid System with other states with heavy air tankers arriving today from South Dakota. 15 air tankers are currently fighting the fires from the air along with 12 helicopters and 13 aerial supervision aircraft along with several dozer strike teams. All local fire departments across the area have all available personnel attempting to hold fragile fire lines and offer structure protection. If you smell smoke or see fire call 911 immediately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Srain Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED FIRE WARNING TEXAS DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT RELAYED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX 308 PM CDT MON SEP 5 2011 THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS TRANSMITTED AT THE REQUEST OF THE ANDERSON COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. A LARGE GRASS FIRE IS CURRENTLY BURNING OUT OF CONTROL WEST OF ELKHART. THE ANDERSON COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGER HAS ISSUED AN EVACUATION ORDER FOR ALL RESIDENTS SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 294...NORTH OF ANDERSON COUNTY ROADS 118 AND 122...AND WEST OF FARM TO MARKET ROAD 322 TO THE LEON COUNTY LINE. A SHELTER HAS BEEN SET UP AT DOGWOOD HILL BAPTIST CHURCH ON HIGHWAY 79 EAST. DO NOT DRIVE INTO HEAVY OR DENSE SMOKE...NEVER CROSS ANY BARRICADED ROADWAYS. MORE INFORMATION WILL BE PROVIDED AS ANDERSON COUNTY RELAYS IT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msp Posted September 5, 2011 Author Share Posted September 5, 2011 leon co. fire map: http://www.kbtx.com/home/headlines/Wildfires_Burning_Across_the_Region_129257513.html new report from kbtx twitter feed of a grass fire in grimes co. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Lizard Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 I think a new fire just started in Montgomery County based on GRK and HGX radars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
penst8wx Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 This new fire is visible on KHGX. leon co. fire map: http://www.kbtx.com/..._129257513.html new report from kbtx twitter feed of a grass fire in grimes co. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Lizard Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 This new fire is visible on KHGX. That is the one I thought was in Montgomery County, but it is near the county lines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Srain Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 E-mail from Jeff: Numerous wildfires developing and threatening thousands of homes across E, SE, and C TX. Hundreds of homes have burned. Fires continue to burn out of control. Wildfire has developed near the junction of Grimes County/Waller County/Montgomery County based on visible satellite image and radar data. Fire is burning south quickly, residents in SW Montgomery County, extreme NW Harris County, eastern Waller County should be prepared to evacuate. If you can see smoke be ready to leave! Bastrop fire has really exploded again this afternoon with nearly 40dbz showing on radar. Fire is burning out of control. Numerous other fires are burning across central TX. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cory Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 Here's a live helicopter feed of the Stone Oak fires in San Antonio, from KSAT-TV http://www.ksat.com/...5383/index.html " A two-alarm brush fire broke out Monday afternoon in the Stone Oak area. About 5,000 people were without power. The fire is close to Canyon Ridge Elementary and an apartment complex. Mandatory evacuations were ordered at Canyon Ridge Apartments were being evacuated and at The Abby at Stone Oak Apartments. Highway 281 near Stone Oak Parkway is closed to traffic due to heavy smoke." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Srain Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 KHOU News enroute to Montgomery/Grimes County fire. They are aware of Waller County fire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janetjanet998 Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 looks like the bastrop fire has moved more west the last 1 hr based on radar more towards the SE side of town at the same time 45dbz showing up now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Srain Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 Yeah JJ, KHOU news teams were reporting in when I was speaking to the office. They said the Bastrop fire had errupted very rapidly. The Montgomery/Grimes County fire is near the Texas Renaissance Festival site. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brettjrob Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 I've seen a lot of large wildfires on radar this year around the southern Plains, and nothing has even compared to the reflectivity showing up in Bastrop Co. right now. It's being identified and tracked as a cell by the SCIT algorithm on GR3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Srain Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 From Jeff: Major wildfire is rapidly developing near the Waller/Grimes/Montgomery County line. Evacuations have been ordered for the following locations: Lake Holly Hills subdivision. At least 60 homes are being threatened. A large smoke plume is developing and spreading SW into NW Harris County. Bastrop Fire Update: 470 homes now lost, 25,000 acres now burned. Fire is 0% contained. Picture of fire in SW Montgomery County at SH 249 and FM 2920...looking Northwest is attached Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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