Bastrop is burning ...

BASTROP

- The most destructive wildfire on record in Texas showed no signs of slowing down Monday, destroying 25,000 acres in Bastrop County and 476 homes, more houses than any single wildfire before and more than all other fires this year combined, according to the Texas Forest Service.

With more than 60 new wildfires raging across the state, Gov. Rick Perry left the campaign trail Monday in South Carolina to address the public and organize requests for more federal aid.

Closer to Houston, a fire in Magnolia burned 20 homes and more than 1,600 acres, and was threatening subdivisions in Montgomery and Grimes counties late Monday. It had moved southwest into Waller County last Monday.

It was one of several fires to hit the area, straining state and local resources as officials focused on the most dangerous blazes. One firefighter was injured and one fire engine burned in blazes in the Magnolia area, said Lt. Dan Norris, spokesman for the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office.

Authorities did not yet know how much of the most dangerous fire had been contained Monday, but planned to continue fighting it "as long as necessary," Norris said.

Strong winds and dry conditions fanned the flames and aided the blaze's rapid growth, forcing the evacuation of more than 150 homes. Montgomery County officials were encouraging evacuations from the intersection of FM 1774 and FM 1488, about 42 miles northwest of Houston, up to the Grimes County line, an official said.

Magnolia fire

The Magnolia fire, located off FM 1774 and FM 1488, jumped FM 1488 late Monday and forced further evacuations, although some families were being allowed back to their homes. The Magnolia Independent School District canceled classes today because of the fires. Evacuation shelters were being set up throughout the area, including at Magnolia High School.

Another fire in the area had burned 100 acres and was 80 percent contained, Norris said. It had destroyed one structure and caused no injuries after 50 homes were evacuated.

A fire covering about 100 acres was burning in Oak Ridge North late Monday.

A fire near Nacogdoches that started Sunday night raged to 300 acres Monday and forced 60 families to evacuate their homes, said Ralph Cullom, a spokesman for the Texas Forrest Service. That fires grew with strong gusts of winds and fed off of dry conditions on the ground.

"This drought we're having is just unprecedented," Cullom said.

No injuries have been reported in Bastrop, but two people were reported killed in a North Texas fire Monday. A woman and her 18-month-old child died when a fast-moving fire near Gladewater, east of Dallas, set their mobile home on fire and they were unable to escape.

The Bastrop County Complex Fire, pushed by strong winds and fed by plenty of dry grasses, shrubs and trees, steadily moved south Monday and expanded throughout the day. It jumped the Colorado River twice.

"We will be working days on end," said Mike Fisher, the Bastrop County Emergency Management Coordinator. "The fire is so dynamic we really have no idea where it is."

'Lives at stake'

Perry said the wildfire burning in the central part of the state is "as mean looking" as he's ever seen.

Don't be alarmed - it's only an exercise ...Deer Park!

Residents of Deer Park may see more emergency response personnel and vehicles than normal next week, but it’s only a drill hosted by Deer Park’s Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) to test and practice the coordination and response needed to mitigate large-scale incidents. The drill is scheduled from 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 7 through 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9.
The full-scale exercise will simulate a hypothetical oil spill from a ruptured pipeline.

In the drill scenario, oil will flow through the streets of Deer Park and into the Houston Ship Channel. The drill will test the ability of multiple agencies and organizations to stop and clean up the spill. No actual oil will be spilled during the drill, but emergency responders will be on-scene and drill activities may be visible to passing motorists and community residents.

“Drills and exercises are important tools to test the ability of the city and industry to work together,” said Deer Park City Manager and LEPC Chairman Jay Stokes. “Drills allow us to evaluate our emergency response plans, personnel, and equipment, and be better prepared to respond to any real incident in the future.”

The city of Deer Park will activate its Emergency Operations Center to test communications and coordination between emergency responders on-scene and city management in the EOC. “We must be able to react quickly and communicate effectively with one another,” said Sam Pipkin, emergency management coordinator for the city of Deer Park. “We will also establish a Joint Information Center to simulate communications with our community residents, neighboring cities, and local news media.”

More than 100 responders from several different organizations plan to participate in the 3-day exercise, including Deer Park Emergency Management, Deer Park Volunteer Fire Department, Deer Park Police Department, Harris County, Texas General Land Office, U.S. Coast Guard, Channel Industries Mutual Aid and area industry representatives.

Deer Park LEPC is composed of community, government and industry representatives who develop an Emergency Response Plan in case of a chemical release impacts the city of Deer Park. The LEPC has developed community education and warning systems such as the AM 530 radio station, telephone notification systems, and outside alarms or sirens throughout the city. The Deer Park LEPC also developed the Wally Wise Guy turtle mascot to teach school children and their parents how to Shelter In Place during a chemical emergency.