Austin area members, you all ok?

[indecks]

I know we have some Austin/Cent-TX members here. Just checking in and wondering if any of you were affected by the rampant fires that are in our area.

A fire was quite literally in our back yard on Sunday afternoon in Cedar Park. It was contained about 100 feet from my house. We were evacuated at about noon on Sunday. As I drove away with my essentials (the wife, 2 cats, my gun, our birth certs, and our laptops) I literally thought to myself "goodbye house." I thought it would be lost for sure. I was certainly lucky. Two homes burned to the ground and a third (no one moved in yet) was damaged lightly. An elderly couple lost their dogs, and a family of seven is now without a home. Luckily (at least in this fire) no one was hurt other than the poor dogs. One of the houses also had their car in the garage.

Anyone in the Bastrop area on these boards? That fire is at 0% containment and has been for quite a while. Hope you are all ok.

[Hobie-wan]

Indeed, hope people are ok. Found this fire map today.

[BananaXX]

One of the fires burned down two of my friends homes and then destroyed the gas station I frequented and came about a mile from my parents house, still not sure if my parents are even allowed to go back. Wish I was there to see it.

Edit: Hobie's link is a tamu website, gig 'em!

[Soldier Blue]

I've heard Bastrop State Park has been completely destroyed. Very sad indeed.

[Hobie-wan]

One of the fires burned down two of my friends homes and then destroyed the gas station I frequented and came about a mile from my parents house, still not sure if my parents are even allowed to go back.

I've heard Bastrop State Park has been completely destroyed. Very sad indeed.

Holy fuck look at it move with the dry and the wind.

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs ... bastro.php

[Luke]

Holy fuck look at it move with the dry and the wind.

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs ... bastro.php

Bewildering.

[Hatta]

I've heard Bastrop State Park has been completely destroyed. Very sad indeed.

Fire is all part of the natural process. It will all grow back in time.

[Hobie-wan]

Fire is all part of the natural process. It will all grow back in time.

Yes, but it usually happens in smaller chunks and not all this quickly.

[Hatta]

Yeah, it does suck losing a whole state park at once. Do you know if Texas tries to manage fires by lighting small controlled ones? or does it just fight every fire it sees?

Around these parts the Missouri River has flooded about half a dozen different parks and recreation areas. Western Historic Trails Center, Boyer Chute, De Soto Wildlife Refuge, Lake Manawa State Park, and a lot more, all still under water. It'll probably be a couple years here before they're able to shovel all the muck off the trails and reopen. I've spent way too much time inside this summer because of this.

[Breetai]

Yeah, it does suck losing a whole state park at once. Do you know if Texas tries to manage fires by lighting small controlled ones? or does it just fight every fire it sees?

I found out about these fires listening to Alex Jones of all things.

Anyway, there are always lots of forest fires around where I live. It isn't nearly as populated here as it is in central Texas though, so that really sucks for you guys there. I heard there were more than 1000 homes evacuated? Or, was it that many burnt (couldn't be, could it?)?

Forest fires are a totally natural thing, of course, but can be extremely dangerous when near populated areas. Were there any fire barriers created in preparation for the fire season each year? That is what happens here. As well, if fires are not near areas of population, they are just watched and left to burn. If they look at all threatening, then they are put under control. Of course, it isn't always possible to completely control them!

Anyway, I feel for you guys in the middle of it. I've been there, but have never been left homeless. I did have a fishing lodge I worked for partially burnt down a few years ago. That was spooky.