Texas Heat!

[Uncle Doug]

We were seeing lots of low level smoke from this fire as far south as I-10 between SA and Houston on our trip through there today.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I know people who have already lost their homes, and some that are just now evacuating. This whole area is like a rag soaked in gasoline. It is so dry. We are so far behind on rainfall, probably as much as anywhere in the state. We just went to a community prayer meeting at the court house. It was awesome to see people from all walks of life show up.

If the wind changes and comes from the west, we'll be in trouble.

 

[txdon]

I can now see the helicopters dropping water in the horizon.

 

[txdon]

Super wide angel view at sunset: view to the south. Everything to the right on the horizon burned yesterday, everything to the left is burning today.

 

[pacerron]

I can now see the helicopters dropping water in the horizon.

How far are you from Giddings and the fire?

 

[txdon]

Ron, I'm 17 miles N/W of Giddings, Kyle is on the west side of Giddings.

The fire is about 12-15 miles south of us.

I guess their plan is to use Lee County VFDs to put out any additional fires in the area. Today S. Lee County, Lincoln, and Giddings VFDs put out fires separate and north from the big fire.

 

[EddieWalker]

Thanks for the updates Don and Kyle. Where is Mike's house and have you heard from him?

Eddie

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I know they are putting some livestock in the rodeo arena across from me.
Here's a link to the weatherbug near my home. Normally, its about a 100 degrees with about 75% humidity. A small front has come through cooling things down, but drying things out more and bringing more wind.
I know the firefighters needed a break from the heat so I'll take 1 outta 3 right now.
KVUE - WeatherBug

I would like to hear from Mike and Bernice too.

 

[txdon]

I called Mike this afternoon. When the winds changed, and started to blow from the west this morning, he started packing. He was packed when the Sheriff's Department ordered him to evacuate. He is at a relative's house north of Smithville.


9PM Update;
60 fires burning in Texas
3.5 million acres burned and burning.

 

[txdon]

This year we are setting new records for central Texas and all of Texas

Central Texas most days in a year 100 degrees or over - 80 days
Central Texas highest recorded Temperature 112 degrees.
The most in all Texas history - 476 Homes destroyed in a single fire (and still burning uncontrolled) - Bastrop County

9:30 pm Edit: The Bastrop fire has now destroyed 500 homes (I hope Mike's new house and my ex-cabin http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/rural-living/145480-moving-cabin.html are not in the statistics.)

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I called Mike this afternoon. When the winds changed, and started to blow from the west this morning, he started packing. He was packed when the Sheriff's Department ordered him to evacuate. He is at a relative's house north of Smithville.


9PM Update;
60 fires burning in Texas
3.5 million acres burned and burning.

North of Smithville is not safe, I've heard they are evacuating Buescher(sp?) State park.

 

[bindian]

The wind is blowing from the North now. In two days it turns and will be coming from the South, that will push the fire in our direction.

Don,
When the wind changes from the north to from the south, won't that push the fire back into already burnt area, thus no fuel for the fire?
When I went out this afternoon to feed the catfish, I smelled smoke. I drove the truck around the back of my place and could not see anything. Came back inside to the evening news to hear we have a fire in western Montgomery County on the Grimes County line. We have haze and smoke now, so that wind is blowing to the east.
hugs, Brandi
hugs, Brandi

 

[txdon]

Brandi when the wind changes it usually blows to the east or west before blowing south. It depends how variable the winds are if the fire takes a "U" turn and burns in an unburned area (bad) or if there is an abrupt change of winds and the direction changes directly opposite (good, well better). There are also millions of logs smoldering on the North side that are now ignored and can ignite nearby combustibles and start the process all over with a south wind taking embers into unburned areas.

Kyle, I know, he might have to evacuate again.

 

[bindian]

Brandi when the wind changes it usually blows to the east or west before blowing south. It depends how variable the winds are if the fire takes a "U" turn and burns in an unburned area (bad) or if there is an abrupt change of winds and the direction changes directly opposite (good, well better). There are also millions of logs smoldering on the North side that are now ignored and can ignite nearby combustibles and start the process all over with a south wind taking embers into unburned areas.

Kyle, I know, he might have to evacuate again.

Got it Don. Just heard the fire on the Grimes/Montgomery County line has taken 24 homes and one fire truck.
hugs, Brandi

 

[wroughtn_harv]

Don don't you and Karen take any chances with this. In 1969 I was in the middle of a fire in southern California. We were doing sixty miles per hour and the fire was staying with us on both sides of the road.

Don't ask, liquor and women were involved.

 

[foreman Etexas]

Well we have 3 pretty good size firers all around us,one in teague started back up has been going since yesterday,one close to flynn started back up been going on since yesterday and another in elkhart.And smalls one been showing up everywhere. I took tractor and sprayer to the in-laws in leona just in case atleast he has 300gal.tank maybe it can help save the house if it happens to come his way.Im heading out in the morning to help again,I hope everyone is safe tonight..

 

[txdon]

There are several fires burning in central Texas, the Leander fire, the Spicewood fire, The Steiner Ranch Fire, Perdernales Bend fire, a second fire (Union Chapel fire - 750 acres) near the Bastrop fire and others. Each have detroyed dozens of homes and burned hundreds to thousands of acres. Here are the active incidents from the Texas Forest Service:

Fire Activity

When you click on the fire it will give you the name and number of acres and % contained.

The winds are calm now and are expected to stay below 10 mph. Hopefully there will be containment today.

 

[jinman]

Well, it's no consolation to all of you with fires nippin' at your heels, but it was 49.5 degrees here when I got up this morning with a heavy dew in my yard. It was WONDERFUL to go out and set my sprinklers up while feeling chilly.:thumbsup: The weatherman said not to expect any rain for the next two weeks . . . same old song.

The one advantage for me is this gives me a chance to dig sand out of the bottom of my creek and where it deposits into the lake at the mouth of the creek. If I can get to it all, I probably have 150 yards of beach quality sand.