Big Brush Fire In Horseshoe Bay Prompts Evacuations

AUSTIN, TX — Firefighters were battling a brush fire described as "major" by the mayor of Horseshoe Bay that has prompted evacuations at two subdivisions on Thursday.

"There is a major brush fire in The Trails Subdivision and Blue Lake Subdivision on the western edge of Horseshoe Bay. Evacuations are taking place in both subdivisions," Mayor Cynthia Clinesmith wrote on a municipal message board. "Updates will be provided as the situation develops."

Two straight weeks of triple-digit temperatures across Central Texas — including heat registered as 103 degrees on Thursday afternoon with a heat index of 110 degrees — have yielded a veritable tinderbox across the parched landscape. Scant rainfall has contributed to the dynamics making for easy ignition on dry land. Such dry conditions prompted the National Weather Service to implement a heat advisory for Central Texas through 7 p.m. on Friday.

Texas A&M Forest Service officials estimated the size of the fire as covering 400 acres:

Big brush fires are not new for the region. At least 150 homes were evacuated in Horseshoe Bay after a large brush fire erupted in August 2018. That previous fire broke out at around 2 p.m. east of the Horseshoe Bay Resort Airport before spreading across 400 acres, city officials said at the time.

The same day as the Horseshoe Bay blaze, Austin firefighters battled a two-acre conflagration at Fawn Circle. No evacuations were needed after the flames were put out by Ce-Bar, Westlake, Lake Travis and Austin fire crews, according to the latter agency via Twitter on Thursday.

Last week, Williamson County firefighters battled a brush fire consuming some 200 acres of land that prompted evacuation of more than 75 homes. Williamson County and other area communities have implemented burn bans as a result of the dry conditions in an effort to mitigate fires.

Horseshoe Bay is located some 43 miles northwest of Austin. Patch will update when more information is known.