Texas Wildfires

[Justin Kirchhoff]

UPDATED IMAGES:

NASA Space view of Bastrop Country wildfires:

Smoke clouds from 15 miles away:

Emergency vehicles blocked off all roads towards the fires:

Flames reaching 50ft in height.

The wind we've been getting for the past 24 hours has been fueling wildfires aross central Texas. This photo was taken just west of Bastrop, a little more than 30 miles from Austin.

I have a close friend who's family had to evacuate from their house in northwest Austin, around where Stuart English lives. I hope that all families are safe and that their houses survive the wildfires. And I wish that Stuart and his family are doing just fine.

 

[Justin O'Neill]

Wow, scary looking. Hope everyone stays safe.

 

[Michael Millichamp]

The fire, I think, is about 30 minutes away from me right now.

I think it's going in the opposite direction, but it's real serious.

 

[Stuart English]

Austin Fire / Steiner Ranch

Austin Fire / Steiner Ranch

Thanks for the words of concern Justin, we moved from Austin a few weeks ago, but all of our friends and neighbors in Steiner Ranch have been evacuated. Approximately 25 homes lost to date, we can only hope that everyone stays safe while the fire crews work to get this under control. Being on the west side of a powerful tropical storm just drives incredibly strong but dry winds, not a drop of rain, it just acts like a blowtorch.

 

[Michael Millichamp]

I walked outside and you can smell burning in the air. It's really strong.

 

[Luis Caffesse]

How sad is it that I live in Austin and the only reason I heard about the fires is because I was on Reduser?
I apparently need to poke my head outside every now and again.

(but maybe not until the fires stop)

 

[Michael Millichamp]

Yea, I got a call from my friend who told me it was getting bad. I had no idea there were fires in North Texas.

Then I called my mom because it's bad where she is.

She had no idea because she was too busy watching Six Feet Under.

 

[Shane Kelly]

How sad is it that I live in Austin and the only reason I heard about the fires is because I was on Reduser?
I apparently need to poke my head outside every now and again.

(but maybe not until the fires stop)

Me too, I had no idea.

 

[Justin Kirchhoff]

Thanks for the words of concern Justin, we moved from Austin a few weeks ago, but all of our friends and neighbors in Steiner Ranch have been evacuated. Approximately 25 homes lost to date, we can only hope that everyone stays safe while the fire crews work to get this under control. Being on the west side of a powerful tropical storm just drives incredibly strong but dry winds, not a drop of rain, it just acts like a blowtorch.

Glad to hear you and the family are ok, Stuart! I hope your friends' houses survive. Today it is equally as windy. I can't imagine being a firefighter in conditions like this, it's got to be a nightmare out there. Watching houses burn down is something else.

 

[Luis Caffesse]

Me too, I had no idea.

Hey Shane - glad to see I'm not the only one.
Good to 'see' you again - hope all is well with you.

 

[AndrewThomas]

Stay safe, my fellow Texans!

 

[Justin Kirchhoff]

I added a few pictures I took from my iPhone to the first post. These were taken around 1:00 today. I was in shock seeing the size of this one in Bastrop. Authorities claim it's 16 MILES long....

 

[Luis Caffesse]

Just came back from the airport (picking up a friend) - it's absolutely insane. I can only imagine the size of the fire given that I was halfway to Bastrop and it looked like it was right over the next hill. We've really needed rain here for the past 6 months...but now we REALLY need some rain.
Crazy.

 

[Justin Kirchhoff]

The fires are still considered 0% contained, they've burned constantly for the past 48 hours. They may slow down some today since the wind has died down, but any breeze can fuel a fire of this magnitude.

 

[AndrewThomas]

Seeing large swaths of Bastrop burned made me really sad. I have some really great memories from that town all through my 26 years on earth.