Firefighters from Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, Southlake and Frisco are in central Texas helping fight the fires.
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The tanker can drop close to 12,000 gallons of retardant at a time, spreading a swath three-quarters of a mile long and 500 feet wide. Buildings on Kellar Road and Powell Road which had previously lost power are expected to have power restored by 8 p.m. today, officials say.
“This is a day of transition for Bastrop County”, Bastrop County Judge Paul Pape said at a news conference Friday morning, referring to the aircraft assistance and the troublesome winds.
No deaths or serious injuries have been reported. About 15 percent of the fire had been contained, with winds Thursday at about 10 miles per hour, compared with the 50 miles per hour gusts of 2011 that spread flames across the county. Thirty-four “home structures” – a category that includes homes and structures that look like homes – plus additional sheds and garages have been destroyed by the Hidden Pines Fire so far, officials reported Thursday afternoon at an information session held at the Smithville Rec Center. “They’re going to be out there all night, and they’ll be there all day tomorrow, and they’ll be there until it is 100-percent contained”, said Mike Fisher, the emergency operations manager for Bastrop County.
Bastrop County, 35 miles southeast of Austin, was also ground zero for a destructive wildfire in September of 2011.
COLLEGE STATION, Texas-More than 40 people with the Texas A&M Forest Service were fighting fire in Bastrop County Friday.
In order to handle these fires, Abbott said they are working to get more aircraft resources in the county. “My heart goes out to so many people who don’t have insurance”, Williams said. He said the blaze is now being held in check by containment lines. At least nine homes have been destroyed.
Abbott made a disaster declaration for Bastrop County after a briefing with state fire officials.
Hidden Pines Fire perimeter as of 11 a.m. Friday.
“As severe wildfires continue to impact Bastrop County, I strongly urge Texans in that area to take all possible precautions to ensure their safety”, Abbott said in a statement.
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National Weather Service meteorologist Cory Van Pelt says temperatures of 93 degrees around Austin on Thursday will flirt with record highs for this time of year.
