Fire danger skyrockets in Burnet and Llano counties
Connie Swinney/The Highlander
Fire officials are zeroing in on the possible cause of a fire that destroyed a log cabin-styled home on Aug. 7 in the 200 block of Kingsland Ranch Cove on Lake LBJ - and scorching conditions may have played a factor. The structure was unoccupied. Suspicions included combustible industrial chemicals on rags as well as embers from a barbecue grill.
By Lew K. Cohn
Managing Editor
Two weekend grass fires in Burnet County, including one near Bertram which required Texas Forest Service assistance, have local fire departments reminding residents there is a burn ban in place for a very good reason.
High temperatures hoving above or near the century mark plus dry conditions with little to no rain expected in the forecast are turning vegetation into tinder that threatens to burn without warning.
On Saturday, an out of control burn in the 9500 block of North Ranch-to-Market Road 1174 created a wall of fire which burned up 78 acres shortly after 1:30 p.m. and threatened several structures. Texas Forest Service units from Fredericksburg responded to the scene and StarFlight was put on standby to provide air support if needed. Fences had to be cut as the fire jumped the roadway at RM 963.
Classified by the Forest Service as the “Hose” fire, the fire was reportedly 95 percent contained as of 2 p.m. Monday. Firefighters from Marble Falls (MFFR and MFAVFD), Bertram, Burnet (BFD and BVFD), Oakalla, Lampasas, Kempner, Horseshoe Bay and Spicewood responded or provided support.
Then, Spicewood VFD-EMS and other departments battled a large grass fire Sunday afternoon in the 4200 block of County Road 404 near Rockvale Cemetery that was moving to the northeast before it was contained at 6:17 p.m. Sunday. The fire flared up again Monday, requiring two brush trucks to mop up hotspots . . . .
Find the rest of this story in the Tuesday, Aug. 13 issue of The Highlander, the newspaper of record for the Highland Lakes. To offer a comment or news tip, email lew@highlandernews.com. To subscribe call 830-693-4367.
