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More evacuations possible in Medina County wildfire; Gov. Abbott to visit area
Fire officials said nearby residents should stay aware of fire development and be prepared to leave quickly if they receive an evacuation order.
SAN ANTONIO β A large brush fire south of Medina Lake that more than doubled in size Saturday is now up to 1,045 acres Sunday morning, fire officials said.
Medina County fire officials said more evacuations are possible Sunday and residents in the area should be ready with a “go bag” in the car or near the exit of the home. Mandatory evacuations were issued Saturday and shelters provided for residents near the area.
The fire, which began Friday night, was continuing overnight into Sunday morning. Fire crews said they would keep up the fight overnight to bring the blaze under control.
They’re advising the general public to stay clear of the area. The smoke plume will be visible from San Antonio and will directly impact the air quality near Medina Lake, Bandera, Pipe Creek, Boerne, Comfort, and Kerrville.
Governor Abbott is planning a visit to the area Sunday at 3 p.m., his office said.
A Red Flag Warning was issued for Sunday as well. See below for more information.
Residents were asked to evacuate immediately Saturday for the following locations according to NWS and Medina County Office of Emergency Management:
- East of County Road 271
- West of the Medina River
- South of F.M. 1283
- County Roads 2651 and 2652
- The town of Mico
Shelters available at the following locations:
- Loma Alta Middle School (266 County Road 381 South)
- Fire station on FM 1957
- Circle K at the corner of FM471 and 211
Medina County officials said those in the north and northeast parts of Medina Lake including the Red Cove area need to keep aware of the fire.
They said to have a planned escape route established and leave early as it’s better to be safe than be slowed down due to other people evacuating.
The fire was 65% contained at one point Saturday. A Black Hawk helicopter was flown over the fire to do water drops. Saturday afternoon, planes were seen gathering water from the lake.
Multiple agencies were on the scene Friday, including several Bexar County fire units, according to their Facebook page. The Texas A&M Forest Service is also responding to assist local firefighters.
An initial investigation shows the blaze was caused from a car fire, a spokesperson for the Medina County Office of Emergency Management confirmed to KENS 5.
This is a developing story. Check back with KENS5.com for updates.