The following wildfire update was issued Thursday, Septemeber, 1, 2011. Only three of the 254 counties in the entire state of Texas have not issued a burn ban, according to the Texas Forest Service.
Current situation:
· Texas Forest Service responded yesterday to new large fires in Walker, Briscoe and Wise counties.
· Today,TFS is currently responding to 14 large fires that have burned 20,859 acres.
· 251 of the 254 Texas counties are reporting burn bans. (Those not under burn bans are Zapata, Willacy and Jackson Counties along with the north east quarter of Jack County.)
New large fires from yesterday (more than 100 acres in timber, 300 acres in lighter fuels):
CRAB PRAIRIE, Walker County. 500 acres, 80 percent contained. Extreme fire behavior was seen yesterday as the fire burned in pine plantation. Numerous single-engine airtankers and helicopters, as well as National Guard bulldozers, assisted. Two homes were reported lost.
HORNETS TANK, Briscoe County. 3,000 acres, 40 percent contained. The fire is burning in juniper and grass in rough terrain near Palo Duro Canyon.
3547 ROAD, Wise County. 200 acres, 10 percent contained. Approximately 60 homes were evacuated near this fast-moving fire. Two homes were lost.
Uncontained fires from previous days (more than 100 acres in timber, 300 acres in lighter fuels):
101 RANCH, Palo Pinto County. 6,200 acres, 30 percent contained. The fire is burning on the south side of Possum Kingdom Lake near the town of Brad. Active fire behavior was observed yesterday. Numerous single-engine airtankers, helicopters and three heavy airtankers worked the fire yesterday. Nine strike teams of Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System engines are assisting. Thirty-nine homes and nine recreational vehicles have been reported destroyed.
JOHNSON (JACKSON) RANCH, Edwards County. 600 acres, 95 percent contained. The fire behavior in juniper and brush was much less active yesterday. Numerous structures were saved; three homes were lost.
BIG DRAW, Kimble County. 600 acres, 20 percent contained. Active fire behavior in heavy fuels and steep terrain. Numerous residences threatened.
RICK RANCH, Sutton County. 600 acres, 50 percent contained. The fire is burning 24 miles west of Junction. Two TFS taskforces will staff the fire today.
LEGACY, Howard County. 3,400 acres, 10 percent contained. Numerous structures are threatened. Fire behavior was minimal yesterday.
JACK MOUNTAIN, Coryell County. 1,700 acres, 15 percent contained. The fire is burning 5 miles south of Gatesville on the Fort Hood military reservation.
BUNDY ROSS RANCH, Edwards County. 600 acres, 50 percent contained. The fire is burning in juniper, grass, and brush 3 miles north of Jackson.
DOUBLE T, Menard County. 300 acres, 95 percent contained. A TFS taskforce worked the fire yesterday.
COSTER, Hall County. 1,000 acres, 80 percent contained. Four homes were saved on this fire burning 26 miles northwest of Childress.
HORSESHOE BEND, Coryell County. 524 acres, 60 percent contained. The fire is burning 10 miles south of McGregor. National Guard Blackhawks assisted on the fire. Twelve homes were saved.
CORYELL COUNTY COMPLEX, Coryell County. 1,635 acres, 90 percent contained. This is a complex of five fires started by someone towing a barbecue pit. A total of 11 fires started, but several burned together.
Weather Outlook:
An upper level ridge will continue to provide mostly dry weather for the majority of the state as it migrates to the east. A surface trough will continue across the Texas/Oklahoma panhandle area near the New Mexico order helping to continue stronger winds mainly over the Texas panhandle with overall less wind for much of the rest of the state. High temperatures will range in the mid-90s to the mid-100s. Low relative humidities will range from 15 to 30 percent for areas away from the coast. The strongest winds and lowest relative humidities are expected over the panhandle and the western Red River Valley. Best chances for precipitation will be near the coast.
Remember, temperatures you read in a weather forecast are measured in the shade. Temperatures in the sun can be up to 20 degrees hotter, especially when measured in the black!
