Texas wildfire spreading quickly

[Susa]

This is just incredible. How can they defend against something moving this fast?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhJeDYQVtdQ

[greenberetTFS]

Richard,

How far are you away from this?.......:confused:

Big Teddy :munchin

[rdret1]

http://www.gonzalescannon.com/node/6410
Feds to assume control of Bastrop Co. fire; volunteer firemen turned away

I talked to my little brother in Round Rock last night, and an old SF buddy around Nacogdoches this morning. They were both doing fine, but definitely had their hands full. IAW the above reference, I don't see why they would turn away any help they can get. My father, living around Pampa,Tx, has been on 24/7 call for the last month. There are not that many FD's around so all of the ranchers in the area back each other up with whatever water trailers they have.

[Drusagas]

I'm in San Antonio at the moment, just got here from the DFW area. They're sending, and have been sending, calls out for any current/former firefighters to come help.

[Susa]

Best of luck to all involved.

[Pete]

Contract Dispute Grounds Firefighting Planes

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=46009

"Nearly half of the federal government’s firefighting air tankers are siting idle at a California airport, grounded by the Obama administration in a contract dispute just weeks before wildfires swept through Texas killing a mother and her child, and destroying 100,000 acres..............."

Well, you could look at it as some money saved - but some...............

Ah, whats the use.

And a possible explanation.

http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/print-edition/2011/08/26/aero-union-fighting-to-survive.html?page=3

But that seems to be something that should have been fixed weeks ago.

[Richard]

1 - It is fires, not fire.
2 - As in many places throughout the USA, people have been building more expansive and expensive homes in more rural, wooded areas where such fires - always a problem - now pose a greater danger to both property and persons than even in the fairly recent past.
3 - Because of changes over the last several decades concerning things like land conservation and use, land speculation, and enforcement and funding, there are far fewer 'fire breaks' throughout the region than used to be regularly maintained by residents and local, regional, state, and federal government agencies for preventing and minimizing such fires.
4 - Texas is in a severe drought.
5 - It has been a long, hot, dry summer here in Texas, with nearly daily 10-20 mph warm winds which only added to the drought's effect upon our vegetation.
6 - Living in America's forested lands and Texas' "Hill Country" have their risks...as many have found out in the past and are now finding out once again.
7 - It's Perry's fault. :rolleyes:

And so it goes...

Richard :munchin

PS - I grew up in NorCal where the same issues have always existed and remain.

[greenberetTFS]

- It's Perry's fault.........;) :D

Big Teddy :munchin

[Dad]

it would be fair to note that the State Forestry Service also had its' budget cut last spring.

[AngelsSix]

I received a Twitter message two days ago from TX Forestry service that said Texas is NOT requesting help from firefighters and that firefighters should not self dispatch. In other words, if you have not received word from your department to respond, stay out of it.

We had to attend a course that was several weeks long to be able to even respond to forest fires. Fighting wildfires is NOTHING like fighting a structure fire. Wildfires scare the crap out of me. I watched a video in the course of a Forestry guy that got caught in a wildfire; his shelter saved him, but it was damn close and he didn't escape unscathed.