Texas wildfires torch 1,000 homes

[Gerald]

Texas Gov Rick Perry said it was "a very critical situation"

Dozens of wildfires raging in rain-starved Texas are now reported to have engulfed more than 1,000 homes.

The biggest of the blazes - 16 miles (26km) wide - in rural Bastrop County, is burning out of control for a third day, having destroyed 600 homes.

Two people were reported to have died in the Bastrop blaze, a local sheriff said, amid hopes for calmer winds to help control the fires.

Texas has been suffering its worst drought since the 1950s.

Schools closed

Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, Texas Governor Rick Perry said more than 100,000 acres (40,470ha) had been scorched by at least 57 wildfires in Texas over the past week.

More than 1,000 homes had been burned over the past week, added Texas emergency management chief Nim Kidd.

On Monday, officials said about 500 homes had been destroyed.


Bastrop County Sheriff Terry Pickering said two people had died in the Bastrop fire, in addition to two people who died in east Texas on Sunday.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14809156


Note: 7 September 2011 Last updated at 01:05 GMT

[mookiemookie]

Originally Posted by Vendor

Texas Gov Rick Perry said it was "a very critical situation"

The same Rick Perry who earlier this year cut volunteer fire department funding from $30 million to $7 million.

The same Rick Perry who wrote his "Fed Up" book and lambasted FEMA and the government, who's now asking FEMA for federal disaster relief, hat in hand.

The guy's a scumbag.

[Herr-Berbunch]

And could be el presidento very soon

[Gerald]

Good work,Perry

[Tchocky]

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

The same Rick Perry who earlier this year cut volunteer fire department funding from $30 million to $7 million.

The same Rick Perry who wrote his "Fed Up" book and lambasted FEMA and the government, who's now asking FEMA for federal disaster relief, hat in hand.

The guy's a scumbag.

You can't say he's done nothing

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/...ry-asks-texans

[razark]

Originally Posted by Tchocky

You can't say he's done nothing

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/...ry-asks-texans

Yes, I can:

The drought became worse after the Days of Prayer. While only 15-17% of the state was undergoing exceptional drought during the Days of Prayer, the percentage grew to 50% a month later, and by late June, more than 70% of the state was experiencing exceptional drought conditions, a level at which it has stayed up to August 18, 2011.

[Growler]

I hope Neal & Co. are OK.

And as bad as it is, I couldn't help but think, "That's the other amazing thing about Texas BBQ."

I would so be going to hell if I believed in such a thing.

[mookiemookie]

Originally Posted by Growler

I hope Neal & Co. are OK.

The fires are quite a ways away from us. Far northwest of Houston.

[Growler]

Good; thanks. Glad to know it.

I'm surprised I'm not hearing stories out of Texas of people lynching the "casual cigarette-tosser," given the (apparent) flammability of the state at the moment.

[Gerald]

The fires still burn and many homeowners have lost all they own to the flames.

Texas firefighters say they have contained 30% of the state's most destructive wildfire in years.

Efforts to contain the Bastrop County blaze, which has razed about 45 sq miles (116 sq km) of land, have been aided by a second day of milder winds.

The Bastrop fire is the biggest of more than 170 that have broken out across Texas in the past week, torching more than 1,000 homes.

The forest service says it responded to 19 new fires on Wednesday.

The Bastrop fire extended 24 miles (39km) long and 20 miles at its widest point. It has consumed 785 homes.

About 1,200 firefighters are on the ground, including crews from the states of California and Oregon.

Texas Forest Service spokeswoman April Saginor said a second day of lighter winds on Wednesday were helping crews to subdue the blaze.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14825814

Note: Update Record, 7 September 2011 Last updated at 16:14 GMT

[mookiemookie]

The view in Houston today:

http://www.khou.com/news/local/HFD-S...129449483.html

[Gerald]

Fires, has thus become extinguished, at least a part,

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

The fires are quite a ways away from us. Far northwest of Houston.

That's good to know

[razark]

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

The fires are quite a ways away from us. Far northwest of Houston.

Taken from: http://www.wunderground.com/wunderma...mode=0&tor=0&n

Edit:
For the record, that is not the Bastrop fire. That one is to the west a ways. The Magnolia fire is the closest one to Houston.

[Jimbuna]

Hey I can see Neals area on that map