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Texas Fires' Toll: 1,000 Homes and Counting

Firefighters still trying to contain blazes fed by Tropical Storm Lee

By the Associated Press

Posted Sep 6, 2011 3:46 PM CDT

(AP) – More than 1,000 homes have been destroyed in at least 57 wildfires across rain-starved Texas, most of them in one devastating blaze near Austin that is still raging out of control, officials said today. Gov. Rick Perry, who cut short a presidential campaign trip to South Carolina to return to Texas, toured a blackened area near Bastrop, about 25 miles from Austin, where a fast-moving blaze destroyed nearly 600 homes yesterday.

"Pretty powerful visuals of individuals who lost everything," Perry said. "The magnitude of these losses are pretty stunning." The Austin-area fire had scorched some 30,000 acres by today, and the Texas Forest Service said crews were still trying to contain it. The blaze—already the single most destructive fire in state history—was one of dozens that started Sunday in Texas and that were fed by strong wind gusts caused by Tropical Storm Lee. Forestry officials said today's calmer winds should help.

Car collector John Chapman surveys the losses at his home Tuesday in Bastrop, Texas.
Car collector John Chapman surveys the losses at his home Tuesday in Bastrop, Texas.   (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Willie Clements surveys his fire-destroyed home Tuesday in Bastrop, Texas.
Willie Clements surveys his fire-destroyed home Tuesday in Bastrop, Texas.   (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Flames from a gas pipe continue to burn at a home in Bastrop, Texas.
Flames from a gas pipe continue to burn at a home in Bastrop, Texas.   (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Gov. Rick Perry holds a news conference Tuesday on the wildfires.
Gov. Rick Perry holds a news conference Tuesday on the wildfires.   (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
A series of large wildfires as seen heading east approaching Bastrop, Texas, on Highway 71 Monday.
A series of large wildfires as seen heading east approaching Bastrop, Texas, on Highway 71 Monday.   (AP Photo/Erich Schlegel)
Brothers Ben, left, and Nathan Clements survey their fire-destroyed home Tuesday in Bastrop, Texas.
Brothers Ben, left, and Nathan Clements survey their fire-destroyed home Tuesday in Bastrop, Texas.   (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Smoke from a wildfire hangs in the sky Tuesday.
Smoke from a wildfire hangs in the sky Tuesday.   (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Dave Bailey looks through the ashes of his home that was destroyed by wildfires in Bastrop, Texas.
Dave Bailey looks through the ashes of his home that was destroyed by wildfires in Bastrop, Texas.   (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 26 comments
Dave99
Sep 7, 2011 5:06 AM CDT
Ricky Retardo cut funding to their fire depts 75 %. Bwahahahahaha And now he's begging for big government money from the Feds. When it comes to republicants who can't do for themselves look no further than Texass. The biggest bunch of asstalking Internet tough guys ever to stand in a pile of smoking rubble with a stupid look on their faces. Beg for help you lameoids. You know you are too retarded to fix the mess you made.
SC23
Sep 7, 2011 12:27 AM CDT
The feds have "taken control" of the situation and sent home all the volunteer firefighters.. http://www.newser.com/story/127882/feds-take-control-send-home-texas-fire-fighters.html I have a strong feeling this might be a federal jab in the eye to Rick Perry..at the expense of peoples homes and lives.
JuniorHightowerII
Sep 6, 2011 10:12 PM CDT
This here fire aint nutin this is Texas weuns take care of our fires with Texans we dont need no femas down here all we need is a couple Texas Rangers and a water hose and this here lil camp fire be out in a momnet let femas go back to joplin where them thar yankee hillbills needen handouts. Texas Pride, Texas Strong, Texas.

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firefighters • Austin • wildfires • Texas wildfires

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