Texas Still Burning – Two Dead in Bastrop

(Ralph Barrera AMERICAN-STATESMAN) This is the view traveling north on Highway 95 as helicopters from the National Guard carry water to douse the hotspots on Tuesday.

Central Texas still continues to burn, though minimal winds have helped firefighters to gain a semblance of control over some of the larger incidences. The Steiner Ranch is a reported 45% contained (100% containment means that all embers – stumps, brush piles, etc. – are completely out) and residents were allowed back in their homes yesterday afternoon. The Pedernales Fire is reported in at 80% contained with 23 homes destroyed – a news conference is scheduled for 1000h CT.

News on the Bastrop FIre is grim, however. Yesterday two bodies were discovered by an unnamed firefighter in a field. The bodies were not in uniform and we’re awaiting ID confirmation. The fires has burned 34,000 acres and destroyed roughly 550 homes as of last night. It stands at 30% containment, though cool(er) evenings and calm winds should accelerate that process. I plan to head over there today and see if I can make it in for some photos.

On a note of some interest, I read this morning that almost half of the firebombers (air tankers) are sitting on the tarmac in California, grounded by the Obama administration due to a contract dispute. This summer marks the 50th year that Aero Union has fought fires for the U.S. Forest Service. “We were certified to fly all season, but they just terminated us and threw 60 people out of work and left the country vulnerable to fires, as you can see right now in Texas,” said Britt Gourley, CEO for Aero Union. Human Events has more details on the dispute.

It’s always interesting to see the human reaction in face of something like this. I’ve seen everything from a nine-year-old who sees it all as a grand adventure to sobbing soccer moms to widened grandparents who have been through it before. Every reaction is individual.

Tags: News