Texas is hurting

I am here in Austin and for the last three days smoke from a number of area fires has descended on the city. This morning, I walked outside to find the strong smell of camp fire and haze which dramatically reduced visibility when looking across the hill country. It is really heart braking to see the destruction to homes and nature alike. I had family that lived in the area not long ago and have many miles of hiking in those parks and wild areas under my belt. Feels to me like salt in an open wound, watching these fires on the back of the drought.

The local paper, the Austin American Statesman, has the best concentration of information I have found thumbing through google news feeds. The URL is: http://www.statesman.com/ Reply with other sources if you have some good ones

The highlights are:
Bastrop an Austin suburb ~25 miles South-East:
-34,000 acres
~785 homes destroyed
-30% contained
-2 dead
-schools closed at least through end of week

Steiner Ranch a North-West Austin subdivision:
-125 acres
-14 homes destroyed, 30 damaged
-40% contained

Spicewood an Austin suburb ~40 miles West:
-12,000 acres
-23 homes, 44 other structures destroyed
-90% contained

Leander an Austin suburb ~5-10miles North-West:
-300 acres
-11 homes destroyed, 8 damaged
-95% contained
-4 teenagers are believed to have started this fire

Central Texas is in the midst of a record setting year for heat and lack of rain. We have had 40% of normal rainfall. Tied all time high temp record at 112 on 8/28. Set record for most consecutive 100+ days at 27 days from 7/17 - 8/12 and had 76 total days of 100+ this summer. There is no rain in the forecast, and while we are enjoying a cool spell with highs in the lower to mid 90's, some forecasters expect the high 90's and 100's to return toward the weekend/beginning of next week.

I guess I post this for informational purposes, or perhaps my own catharsis, but if you have a sec...send some wet thoughts.

 

This sucks. I love Austin.

I'll do a rain dance for ya.

 

is it true that Texas been in flames for nearly a year?

 

Sucks... Loved going to Lake Travis(hippy Hollow) and Barton springs.

 

I saw a picture posted by one of my friends on FB earlier today. It looked like there was a volcano over the hills there was so much smoke. It's the most terrible thing to happen to the state in as long as I can remember.

 

I live in Austin. My mom, sister and brother all live on the outskirts of Bastrop in 3 different homes. They were all evacuated for a couple of days and have now returned to their homes. The one largest fire in Bastrop has burned over 35000 acers and burned almost 700 homes....and it is still burning!!! There are fires burning all over Texas with many, many homes burned to the ground. NEVER have we had this many fires burning out of control in Texas. Here is a pic. of the fire in Bastrop Friday before it jumped HY 71 and is still burning. It started in Bastrop State Park. There are only 50 acers left in that park that has not burned. It is a 3000 acre park.

 

^ Looks like something out of a movie.

 

everything's BIGGER in Texas

 

That picture is horrifying

 

this is how fast the fire is moving. Winds here on Sat, Sun and Monday were 30-40mph. They have slowed to 10-15 but expected go go up tomorrow with a light cold front.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhJeDYQVtdQ&feature=player_embedded

 

Please note it took 45 seconds to go across the screen. And this video WAS NOT speeded up just to make it look better!

 

Yes please send your thouts and prayers to Texas, big wild fire started up today in San Antonio, not nearly as bad as you guys up north tho. Good luck to you guys.

 

That's not fucking funny.

 

We definitely need rain.

 

Hopefully you guys will get a slow moving tropical storm soon. It won't put out the fires completely, but it should help some. I wish that TS Lee would have soaked Texas for a few days.. maybe the next one will come your way.

 

I have enjoyed many visits to the Austin area. I sure hope things turn around for firefighters soon--rain would be good too.

 

Drove from College Station to Houston yesterday saw 2 fires. One small one that was right off Hwy 6 it didn't look like anyone was there yet. A massive one that had tons of fire fighters going to it and it was still burning today when I came back, and it looked even bigger.

 

best of luck to you guys....

in arizona the wallow fire burned over 540,000 acres..

 

Yes please send some rain!!! Thank god that we have not been affected by the fires, 2 of them were about 5 miles to to north of us and the Steiner Ranch fire is about 9 miles away. Lots of smoke and ash over at my place. I have been on my toes for the last few days.... at least I have the taco with ample cargo room if I need to make a quick get away with the wife and dogs. Stay safe and keep the victims in your prayers.

 

My parents home is about 10 miles from Leander and this is the area I grew up. I'm headed to that area this weekend and going to check out the devastation.

My mom and I spoke last night and she can barely stand to step outside because of the smell in the air. Many prayers for my fellow Austinites.

Please God, send the rain!!!