Single Publication

Powder Keg Pine Fire Update

Wednesday, August 2, 2023

12:18

Size: 100

Containment: 50%

Start Date: August 1, 2023

Cause: Under Investigation

At approximately 1:30 p.m. on Aug. 1, Texas A&M Forest Service received a request for assistance with a fire burning in brush and pine in Bastrop, Texas. Texas A&M Forest Service responded shortly after with personnel, heavy equipment and aviation resources. Air operations provided the “eye in the sky” for fire assessment as well as planes and helicopters delivering water drops.

Aircraft and engine crews engaged in protecting threatened structures. Residents on Harmon Road and Pine Hill Loop were evacuated at 2pm.

A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place for the area over the Powder Keg Pine Fire. Please avoid the area to provide a safe environment for firefighting aircraft.

Yesterday:

Hot and dry conditions with variable winds from 5-10mph caused moderate to extreme fire behavior, including long range spotting. Numerous air resources responded to assist with initial attack. An air attack plane from Texas A&M Forest Service air base in Fredericksburg provided an overhead assessment of the fire followed by both Single Engine Air Tanker (SEAT) planes and helicopters providing water drops. Additionally, two scoopers from the College Station air base brought in larger loads of water from the Fayette County Reservoir.

Dozers made good progress constructing firelines around the main fire and spot fires, while engine crews continued structure protection. There was one non-serious heat related medical incident during afternoon operations, the individual was moved to Bastrop County First Responders Mobile Medical Unit to recuperate.

Forward progression slowed by 4:30 pm and stopped by 8:15pm. Acreage impacted increased from 10 to 100 acres over seven hours. Dozers and engines continued working on fireline construction until 2:00am and by end of shift, fire was at 50% containment.

Today:

This morning staff from Texas A&M Forest Service Smithville Task Force are coordinating with the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System Strike Team (TIFMAS), Texas Division of Emergency Management and Wildland Fire Medical Support Unit to contain the fire. The Powder Keg Pine Fire is still showing a lot of smoke, but fire stayed within containment lines over night and had no additional growth.

The main area of concern is where a spot fire occurred on the northwest edge of the fire yesterday. Three dozers are strengthening containment lines and nine engines are conducting mop up.

Weather and Fire Behavior:

Dry and hot conditions are forecast today through the remainder of the week across the region. A Red Flag Warning is in effect today, and fires may exhibit a high resistance to control during the afternoon and early evening when Relative Humidity values are at their minimum and temperature and wind speeds are at the maximum.

Evacuations: 

No evacuations at this time. The residents around Harmon Road and Pine Hill Loop evacuated on August 1st at approximately 2:05pm were allowed to return last night at 9:00pm.

Damages/Injuries:  

One lost structure and one damaged outbuilding.

Closures: State Highway 71, westbound lane is now open. Please use caution when traveling along this roadway as fire crews are still working along this road to suppress the Powder Keg Pine Fire.

Fire Information

Information Officer

Texas A&M Forest Service

Email: information@tfs.tamu.edu

Phone: 979-255-0591

Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/txtxs-powder-keg-pine-fire

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