Firestorm sweeps across Texas

A furious fire near Austin, Texas has claimed lives and destroyed the homes of hundreds. This fire, which started on Monday, Sept. 5, was one of many fires spreading across Central Texas this week.

According to CNN.com, a wildfire has killed at least two people in Bastrop County, Texas. The fire started on Sunday, Sept. 4, and worsened through Monday, when winds from Tropical Storm Lee spread across the small rural county.

According to the Mayor of Bastrop, Terry Orr, the wildfire was 16 miles long and five miles wide, making it the largest fire in Texas history.

“When the fire started, … we were having a cool front, but it was still about 110 degrees, it was just too hot,” Orr said.

Orr says Bastrop County is a heavily forested area with a lot of pine trees and cedar trees, making the wildfire even more destructive. This fire is only one of many in Texas.

“September 10, Texas Forest Service responded to 24 new fires for 100 acres,” stated the Incident Information System website. “There were no new large fires reported. In the past seven days Texas Forest Service has responded to 181 fires for 166,475 acres.”

As of Sunday, Sept. 11, the fires had left 1554 homes destroyed, according to International Business Times online, forcing residents to be evacuated to shelters. Orr says around 300 people are in shelters, but that number is decreasing.

Bastrop County did not receive help outside of the area. A Texas native, junior Stephen Sigmon, was frustrated at the lack of help and media coverage. “Texas has been forced to deal with the situation on its own,” Sigmon said.

“The first 24 hours we had to hold onto local emergency management,” Orr said. “I really believe that even if we had help from Fort Hood, we could not have done a whole lot to stop the fire. It was just so hot.”

The second day of the fire, Texas Governor Rick Perry visited Bastrop, bringing some resources with him, Orr said.

“When Governor Perry came, we had more and more help,” Orr said. “We had about 350 firefighters doing all three shifts.”

Bastrop is expected to receive more help on the federal level. According to Orr, the Lt. Governor of Texas, David Dewhurst, signed a document to better help the people of Bastrop.

“Dewhurst is going to sign the Federal FEMA disaster relief form, which will help with the firefighting costs and help displaced families,” Orr said.

Orr says that the people of Bastrop are receiving a lot of help.
“We have the American Red Cross here, people are bringing food, and they are dropping water on the fires,” Orr said.

Orr said insurance companies also hurried to help their customers, giving Bastrop residents a head start on rebuilding their lives.

“When people return to their homes, one of the first things they have to do is get in contact with their private insurance companies,” Orr said. “The private insurance companies are setting up in Bastrop. Some are giving their people $500 debit cards and some are paying for displacement into hotels.”

Orr said despite the magnitude of the wildfires, he is pleased with the resources they have received.

“We have had good support from both state and federal level,” Orr said. “As a small town mayor, it feels good to know we have help.”