Monday, April 28, 2014

Planes Dropping Fire Retardant on Buffalo Gap Fire, Texas

6:34 p.m. Monday Update: Planes are now dropping fire retardant on the fire at Buffalo Gap.

5:29 p.m. Monday Update: After re-assessing the threat, the evacuations are no longer being ordered for the entire town of Buffalo Gap.

The evacuations will now only affect the northwest portion of Buffalo Gap.

An air tanker plane has been requested from New Mexico to drop water on hot spots.

4:51 p.m. Monday Update:

All of Buffalo Gap is now being evacuated due to the fire threat.


4:37 p.m. Monday Update: Evacuations are underway for residents of Buffalo Gap who live north of North Street and west of West Street.

Firefighters are also urging everyone to stay away from the area.


4:10 p.m. Monday Update: More evacuations are underway in the Buffalo Gap area due to hot spot flare-ups.

At this time, people living on Clubhouse Drive in Buffalo Gap are being asked to evacuate.


2:25 p.m. Monday Update: The evacuations at Apache Junction along County Road 330 were triggered by a hot spot flare-up near the area and headed south.


2:02 p.m. Monday Update: Though the fire at Buffalo Gap is considered around 60 percent contained according to the Texas A&M Forest Service, the people who were allowed back in their homes earlier Monday morning after being evacuated Sunday due to the fire danger are being asked to evacuate again.

Firefighters have determined the fire is once again posing a threat and residents of Apache Junction on County Road 330 were allowed back in Monday on the condition that they might have to evacuate again if the fire danger re-emerged.


11:31 a.m. Monday Update: The people who evacuated their homes Sunday along County Road 330 are now being allowed back in.

However, this is under the condition that these residents understand they may be asked to evacuate again if the fire once again poses a threat.

Firefighters were able to more accurately estimate the containment level of the fire Monday morning and the new estimate is that the fire is only around 50 percent contained, as opposed to the estimated 70 percent containment from early Monday morning.


10:06 a.m. Monday Update: The fire has burned the equipment at the STEMS and Buffalo Gap VFD radio communications tower. Firefighters will work Monday to estimate the exact acreage the fire has covered since Sunday.

Firefighters are continuing to cut additional fire lines Monday morning, as well as cutting a road to a particular hot spot in the midst of the damaged area so it can be brought under control before winds pick up. A spotter plane is helping firefighters knock down any additional hotspots.

Helicopters have been brought in again Monday morning to drop more water on the area.
 
7:30 a.m. Monday Update: Firefighters are meeting this morning to decide tactics on how to contain the blaze that has burned at least 1,000 acres. Light winds overnight helped crews gain some headway in battle to extinguish the fire. No buildings have been damaged so far, and no further evacuations have been ordered following mandatory evacuations of homes on County Road 330 Sunday afternoon.

10:45 p.m. Update: Firefighters will stay on the scene through the night to battle this large fire. Winds have subsided significantly, which will help firefighters gain control of the blaze.

No further evacuations have been ordered at this time.

The Texas Forest Service estimates the fire is 40% contained, and has burned about 1,000 acres.

8:30 p.m. Update: Taylor County Sheriff Ricky Bishop, who is also Chief of the View Volunteer Fire Department, tells us the high winds are the primary concern when it comes to battling this blaze. Bishop estimates the size of the fire at about 200 acres, though it's difficult to know the exact size at this point.

About 20 homes have been evacuated, but no structures have been damaged, other than a communications tower. A firefighting aircraft was brought in late this afternoon to help with the effort.

Bishop says firefighters will be working throughout the night to help get the blaze under control.


5:15 p.m. Update: Residents of the Country Place South addition north of Buffalo Gap are being told to prepare to evacuate if needed.


Several Taylor County fire departments are attempting to battle a large grass fire southwest of Abilene.

Officials are evacuating all houses on County Road 330.

FM 1235 has been closed down between Buffalo Gap and View.

Firefighters are trying to keep the flames away from houses in the area.

Officials are urging people to please stay away from the area.


Story and photos:  http://www.bigcountryhomepage.com