Thursday, September 8, 2011

TEXAS WILDFIRE SITUATION

Submitted by: Doris Parker

Texas Forest Service's Interagency Coordination Center situation report for 09/07/11


Code:
TEXAS FOREST SERVICE INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SITUATION REPORT
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
National Preparedness Level: 3
Southern Area Preparedness Level: 4
TFS Preparedness Level: 5

CURRENT SITUATION

Yesterday Texas Forest Service responded to 19 new fires for 1,490 acres, including new large fires in Red River and Rusk counties. In the past seven days Texas Forest Service has responded to 172 fires for 135,051 acres.


An assessment has been completed on the Bastrop County Complex and 785 homes have been reported destroyed. An additional 238 have been reported lost on other fires in the past three days, for a total of approximately 1,023.

A significant number of aircraft have been mobilized to assist with the heavy fire activity. Six heavy airtankers, three 1500-gallon scoopers, 15 single-engine airtankers, twelve helicopters, and twelve aerial supervision aircraft are in place. Eight National Guard Blackhawk and three Chinook helicopters have been providing critical aerial support. In addition, a 12,000-gallon DC-10 airtanker will be activated Friday morning at the Austin-Bergstrom Airport. This aircraft was instrumental in helping to contain Wildcat Fire in Coke County last April.

A Type I Incident Management Team is in place in Bastrop this morning and is assisting Texas Forest Service in managing the Bastrop County Complex. Additional Type 1 teams have been requested to assist with the large fires in Northeast and Southeast Texas.

New large fires from yesterday (more than 100 acres in timber, 300 acres in lighter fuels; or where homes were lost):

HALSBRO COMPLEX, Red River County. 950 acres, unknown containment. The fire is burning in grass. Fifteen homes are threatened, but none reported lost.

#510, Rusk County. 400 acres, unknown containment.
Uncontained fires from previous days (more than 100 acres in timber, 300 acres in lighter fuels):

BASTROP COUNTY COMPLEX, Bastrop County. 33,038 acres, no containment. Heavy airtankers, scoopers, helicopters, and SEATs assisted on this fire that started in the Lost Pines area just northeast of Bastrop. Most of the forward progress of the fire has stopped, but significant intense burning continues in the interior. Twenty subdivisions remain evacuated. An assessment team has confirmed 885 homes have been destroyed. Two civilians were found dead yesterday as search crews went through the charred subdivisions. A FEMA Management Assistance Grant was received.

PEDERNALES BEND (Spicewood), Travis County. 6,500 acres, 80 percent contained. The fire is burning four miles southeast of Spicewood. Sixty-seven homes were destroyed. A FEMA Management Assistance Grant was received.

BEAR CREEK (#536), Cass County. 14,000 acres, unknown containment. The fire is burning in heavy timber and is threatening a gas facility and chicken houses. Six homes have been destroyed. A FEMA Management Assistance Grant was received.

RILEY ROAD, Grimes/Montgomery/Waller counties. 5,000 acres, 30 percent contained. Seventy-five homes have been destroyed on this fire burning just west of Magnolia. A FEMA Management Assistance Grant was received.

TAMINA ROAD, Montgomery County. 150 acres, unknown containment. Hundreds of homes were evacuated Monday evening, but none was reported lost. A FEMA Management Assistance Grant was received.

UNION CHAPEL, Bastrop County. 912 acres, 20 percent contained. Twenty-five homes were destroyed on this fire just west of Bastrop. Aircraft responded immediately after the fire was reported, but were ineffective in the windy conditions.

MOONGLOW, Williamson County. 75 acres, 95 percent contained. This fire is burning in Leander where 150 homes were threatened. Thirteen homes are reported lost. A FEMA Management Assistance Grant was received.

PETERS CHAPEL, Harrison County. 650 acres, 80 percent contained. The fire is burning actively in pine plantation. Numerous homes have been evacuated. There are no reports of losses.

STEINER RANCH, Travis County. 125 acres, 40 percent contained. The fire started just north of the Steiner Ranch subdivision. More than 1,000 homes were evacuated. Thirty-five homes were destroyed. A FEMA Management Assistance Grant was received.

HENDERSON #495, Anderson County. 5,000 acres, unknown containment. Three homes were saved.
#491, Limestone County. 3,000 acres, 90 percent contained. Six homes were saved and one was lost on this fire 20 miles east of Waco.

DELHI, Caldwell County. 6,000 acres, 60 percent contained. Twenty homes were saved and six were lost on this fire east of Lockhart.

BAILEY, Colorado County. 2,300 acres, 75 percent contained. This fast-moving fire threatened 40 homes near Columbus. Ten homes were destroyed.

DIANA (#545), Upshur County. 2,500 acres,70 percent contained. The fire is burning in grass and timber. Twenty homes are threatened.

LUTHERHILL, Fayette County. 2,700 acres, 95 percent contained. The community of Ruttersville was evacuated. Fourteen homes were destroyed.

BONBIEW RANCH, Van Zandt County. 350 acres, 80 percent contained. Twenty homes were saved southeast of Canton.

MOORE, Smith County. 1,500 acres, 90 percent contained. Ten homes were evacuated and five were lost on this fire burning on the Smith/Gregg County line. Two civilian fatalities were reported.
BOOT WALKER (#553), Marion County. 2,000 acres, unknown containment. Thirty homes are threatened.

TOAD ROAD (#552), Upshur County. 350 acres, unknown containment. The fire is burning in timber. Three homes were lost and dozens remain threatened.

HOPEWELL (#854), Walker County. 1,000 acres, 90 percent contained. Thirty homes have been evacuated, five homes were destroyed.

#507, Anderson County. 1,400 acres, unknown containment.

#504, Anderson County. 800 acres, unknown containment.

#502, Nacogdoches County. 4,000 acres, unknown containment. More than a dozen homes have been evacuated, but none lost.

ARBOR, Houston County. 3,000 acres, 90 percent contained. The fire is burning in timber. Up to 15 homes are reported lost.

KENNEDY ROAD, Rusk County. 150 acres, unknown containment. Numerous homes threatened, one lost.

PETTYTOWN, Caldwell County. 200 acres, 95 percent contained. Twenty homes were saved east of Lockhart.

OLD MAGNOLIA, Gregg County. 1,000 acres, 80 percent contained. Several structures and a gas plant are threatened. Two fuel tanks exploded.

#839, Leon County (Concord Robbins). 4,000 acres, unknown containment. An estimated twenty homes are reported lost and more than 300 were evacuated. A FEMA Management Assistance Grant was denied.

101 RANCH, Palo Pinto County. 6,555 acres, 85 percent contained. The fire is burning on the south side of Possum Kingdom Lake near the town of Brad. Thirty-nine homes and nine RV’s have been reported destroyed. A FEMA Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) was received.


TODAY’S SAFETY MESSAGE

Fatigue/Stress
Accumulated (Chronic) Fatigue is defined as fatigue from which normal rest does not produce recovery. Accumulated fatigue is often caused by extended periods of stress with inadequate recovery periods, which results in decreased productivity, compromised immune function, and reduced alertness. Fatigued workers perform poorly, behave carelessly, tolerate greater errors and become inattentive. Chronic fatigue often results in increased stress, which may present itself through certain behavioral and physiological indicators, such as those described below:
Behavioral indicators
• Decreased motivation and low morale
• Increased irritability and depression
Physiological indicators
• Confused, poor problem solving
• Poor abstract thinking
• Poor attention/decisions
• Poor concentration/memory
• Extreme emotional responses
• Social/behavioral changes
Recommendations for chronic fatigue/stress are:
• Take longer periods of rest/recovery
• Ensure that workers are adequately rested before they begin work shifts
• Provide periodic rest breaks to allow physical and mental recovery
• Alternate between heavy and light tasks
• Eat well-balanced meals regularly, with energy supplements during periods of high exertion
• Maintain hydration
• Ensure workers maintain good personal hygiene
• Maintain high standards of physical fitness and work capacity
• In extreme cases, personnel may need to be relieved of their duties

September 8, 2011


Update 3: Supporting Ongoing Wildfire Fight

Posted by: Public Affairs

We continue to support federal, state, local and tribal efforts to combat the raging wildfires in Texas and California. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and communities being impacted by these wildfires, and we sincerely thank the firefighters and first responders who have been heroically working around the clock to fight these fires.

Last night, the President called Texas Governor Rick Perry to express his concern for citizens of Texas impacted by the unprecedented fires. During the call the President extended his condolences for the lives that have been lost as a result of these events, and made clear that the federal government, through DHS/FEMA and the U.S. Forest Service, will continue to make federal assistance available, as needed, to state and local officials as they fight the fires. The President also assured the Governor that requests for additional assistance, including as recovery begins, would be quickly assessed.

Bastrop County, TX, September 7, 2011 -- Wildfire damage to a home in Bastrop County, Texas. FEMA is providing assistance to state firefighting efforts through Fire Management Assistance Grants.
Bastrop County, TX, September 7, 2011 -- Wildfire damage to a home in Bastrop County, Texas. FEMA is providing assistance to state firefighting efforts through Fire Management Assistance Grants.

As we said in yesterday’s update, at the request of the Governor, the Administration has granted eight Fire Management Assistance Grants in the last several days, making federal funds available to reimburse eligible costs associated with efforts to combat the fires. (Read yesterday’s post for more on our efforts to support the state of Texas during this year’s busy wildfire season.) According to the U.S. Forest Service, there are currently, more than 2,000 U.S. Forest Service federal firefighters and support personnel assigned to the Texas fires.

We’re also actively working with state and local officials to conduct damage assessments and to identify areas where additional federal assistance may be warranted. At the request of the Governor, FEMA, state and local officials have already completed damage assessments in fire affected areas including Bastrop and Williamson counties; and are continuing with assessments beginning today in Colorado, Leon and Travis counties. These assessments are designed to give the governor of the state a better picture of disaster damages, and to determine if a request for further federal support is needed.

And for those who may be affected by the wildfires in Texas or California, here are some tips to remember:

  • Listen to and follow the guidance of state and local officials. If authorities order an evacuation, leave immediately, follow evacuation routes announced by local officials.
  • Create an area of “defensible space” around your home. Clear items that will burn from around the house, including wood piles, lawn furniture, barbecue grills, tarp coverings, etc.
  • If you’re caught in the open during a wildfire, The best temporary shelter is in a sparse fuel area. Clear fuel away from the area while the fire is approaching and then lie face down in the depression and cover yourself. Stay down until after the fire passes.
  • Let your family and friends know you’re OK, especially if you’re told to evacuate. In case phone lines are congested, try sending a text message, e-mail, or updating your social networking sites. The American Red Cross Safe and Well site offers another way for disaster survivors to update their status and for family and friends to search for loved ones.

For more information on getting prepared for wildfires, visit www.Ready.gov/wildfires

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