As the heat wave continues in Texas, the ground seems to be undergoing spontaneous combustion! It is estimated that over 1,000 homes have been burned down, with nearly 600 of those from the fire located in Bastrop, just east of Austin, TX.
Fortunately, my sister and her family live just west of Austin. So far, out of harms way.
Fires burning near Austin, TX
Color image taken by NASA’s Aqua satellite of the the fires burning near Austin, Texas on September 5, 2011. Image credit: NASA.
With numerous fires burning across the parched landscape of Texas, a ring of fire seems to be closing in on Temple, TX. Hey, wait a minute…that’s where I am!
Ring of Fire
Ring of Fire surrounding Temple, TX
This afternoon, the horizon was thick with the smoke from nearby fires, and the air smelled as if a giant wood stove was busy gorging on wood planks.
A wildfire burns out of control in Bastrop State Park near Bastrop, Texas on Sept. 5.
Larry W. Smith / EPA
The Texas wildfires have burnt over one million acres in a little over a week’s time, and they are still raging on!
Video of Texas fire in Bastrop
Fire is out of control in Bastrop, TX
If any one knows a rain dance, ya gotta do one for the State of Texas! We disparately need some moisture. Fortunately for now, the wind has died down, giving the fire crews a chance to better contain these devastating fires.
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Praying for all of you there. Those are some very scary fires. I wish I was closer to lend a hand and a horse trailer.
Hi ya Mikey…fortunately, the heat and wind has mellowed out lately.
My thoughts are with you and everyone struck by the fires in Texas. Mother Nature has been particularly cruel in the past few weeks, venting her wrath with fire, wind and water.
Yea, she sure has made an appearance this summer.
Brian, you might want to read The Smoke Jumper about now!
UP
Is that fiction, or a real story, UP?
These fires are something else. We are having the same problems in OK. Finally we are supposed to start getting some rain.
By the way, I graduated high school in Bryan, Texas. Every year Temple was the big football rival.