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BASTROP – Extreme heat and arid conditions helped spread wildfires across Bastrop County this past week, including an 117-acre roadside blaze that took responders five days to fully contain.
The Powder Keg Pine Fire sparked from an unknown source around 2 p.m. Aug. 1, six miles east of Bastrop on Texas Highway 71 and Harmon Road. Response from local firefighters was quick, but the fire spread to 40 acres by nightfall and residents were asked to evacuate while the highway shut down. Support from neighboring towns and counties came in the form of experienced firefighting task forces, helicopter water drops, bulldozers creating containment cut lines and water transportation tender trucks.
“It just takes one little spark,” said Elgin Fire Chief Chris Botello. “With conditions being so dry, when something starts, it’s going to start and spread quick.”
This past July was one of the hottest on record, but up through May there was more rainfall than previous years, Botello explains. This resulted in grass that has grown more and dried out more. “More fuel for the fire,” he said.
Responders worked through the night and were able to reach a containment level of 65% by the morning, preventing any damage to homes in the area. Operations continued for the following three days and by Sunday it was completely contained.
Smoldering hot spots are still under watch as there is always a risk of reignition under these conditions. The county has been under a red flag warning for seven continuous days, a declaration of extreme risk of fire due to temperature, humidity and wind readings. This comes beside the burn ban initiated last month.
Those who witnessed the fire expressed concern, reminded of the Bastrop County Complex Fire in 2011. The most destructive wildfire in state history tore through the county, lighting up over 1,600 homes and killing two people. High winds were a factor then and remain a point of focus now. Sparks blow between flammable cedar and pine trees that decorate the area’s roadways and parks.
Fire departments have evolved since the disaster, incorporating special taskforces and changing how they respond locally.
“We’re actually sending more units than needed from the beginning. We can always send them back, but if it is something that we actually need all these units, then we got them there a lot quicker,” Botello said.
Alongside the Powder Keg Pine Fire, local departments distributed responders to the Mesquite Field Fire. The south Bastrop wildfire spread to 38 acres and took two days to contain, but was not severe enough to warrant evacuation or road closures like its larger counterpart.
The organization of inter-department coverage deserves recognition, according to firefighters. Stations expanded their areas of operation to accommodate towns that sent their teams to the wildfires. While the two points of focus were attended to, several other smaller brush fires ignited and required attention.
“We get a lot of calls for smoke investigations, three or four a day. Nothing big and moving, but still, sometimes about 2,000 square feet,” said responder Randy Reyna.
It’s extremely important to adhere to the county’s burn ban during these risky summer months. The National Weather Service asks residents to dispose of cigarettes appropriately, secure any chains or pieces of dragging metal, do not park recently driven cars on dry grass and avoid using lawnmowers.
