LLANO COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A brush fire that began burning at a ranch Thursday afternoon grew to scorch 707 acres and is 100% contained as of 9:14 p.m. Sunday.
Officials said no homes have been lost, but 12 were threatened. The blaze was likely started by someone in the area operating machinery, according to the Texas A&M Forrest Service.
Air support and dozers worked to build firelines.
Humidity kept the flames low early Friday morning, which helped the containment process. Even though the majority of the fire was contained by that time, officials said the conditions Friday afternoon were concerning.
“This excessive heat is just making these fuels even dryer,” said Walter Flocke of Texas A&M Forrest Service. “Temperatures over triple digits every single day, multiple days in a row, is going to make what could have been a smaller fire even bigger and harder for crews to control,” Flocke continued.
The Llano County Office of Emergency Management posted on its Facebook page Thursday that at least 10 agencies were responding to the fire located near East Highway 71 and County Road 307. Crews had also shut down CR 307 due to the response.
Initially, first responders told KXAN the fire began on a ranch property.
Air support from the Texas Forest Service is assisted with the fire, according to the Llano County Office of Emergency Management.
At last check, there are no structures were in danger, according to Llano officials.
“We do have fires in this area – Llano County – quite often,” Flocke said. “There is definitely plenty of fuel out here that’s available for the fire to burn because of the drought, because of ice storms – all of that,” he continued.
As of July 10, Llano County had a burn ban in place.
The firefighters on the scene have not been alone. Volunteers from Hill Country Auxillary were meters away from the fire, handing out cold drinks and food to those putting out the flames.
“The firefighters – it does not take long for them to get overheated, exhausted, dehydrated,” said Amanda Barnett, Vice President of Hill Country Auxiliary in Llano County. “Our purpose and main goal is to keep them going.”
Barnett said the organization began several years ago by three women whose husbands were firefighters.
“It started out with us just going out with their own little personal coolers, case of water and [handing out] Gatorade,” she said. “Then we just saw a bigger need – the fires out here were getting bigger, worse and taking longer.”
The organization is now a 501(c)(3) organization and volunteers will show up at disasters all over the state to aid in any way they can. Friday, the group had several tables full of snacks and many ice chests full of cold drinks. Volunteers also catered lunch from a popular Llano County Barbeque restaurant.
“These guys, they really are dedicated to what they do,” Barnett said. “Whatever they need so they can do their job effectively – we take care of that. They worry about nothing when they get to my scene.”