South Austin Firefighters Join Wildfire Battle

Firefighters at Austin’s Wildfire Headquarters geared up and went to Bastrop County to assist with the wildfire efforts on Thursday.

“We just got the call from TIFMAS (Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System), which is run by the Texas A&M Forest Service, for four of our folks to head to Bastrop to help chainsaw downed trees and clear brush,” the Austin Fire Department said in a statement. “They plan to be gone seven days unless they’re demobilized sooner. Please keep them and their families in your thoughts and prayers for their safety while they’re away helping those in need.” 

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Fires have popped up across the state, but the largest and most powerful one burned in and around Smithville, Texas, where flames have spread across three square miles since Tuesday morning, the Associated Press reported. The Texas A&M Forest Service says challenging topography and uncontrolled fire lines slashed the containment of the Bastrop County fire to 10 percent as night fell Wednesday. The Forest Service had estimated 50 percent containment earlier in the day.      

The South Austin firefighters went to Bastrop with trucks full and chainsaws and shovels to clear out debris and cut down trees that could block their efforts. If conditions continue to get worse, more Austin firefighters will be called to action. Other firefighters in Austin are on standby with trucks and resources in case fires begin to pop up locally.

We will continue to update this story as we receive more information.