Texas News

The Crabapple fire started at around 1 p.m. Saturday. AUSTIN, Texas — Fire crews in Gillespie County along with the Texas A&M Forest Service are battling a large wildfire north of Fredericksburg that sparked on Saturday afternoon. According to Gillespie County officials, the fire – named the Crabapple fire – started in the 8700 block of Lower Crabapple Road around 1 p.m. All Gillespie County fire departments are responding to the fire. According to the…

The Austin City Council is expected to discuss the at-risk zone at its March 27 meeting. AUSTIN, Texas — Later this month, the Austin City Council will discuss the rules around the Wildland Urban Interface Code, or WUI. The WUI creates guidelines for businesses or homes that are next to wildlands are protected from the next wildfire. According to a presentation from the Austin Fire Department, the council will consider expanding the zone that would be…

Austin has an interactive map showing which parts of the city are at the highest risk of wildfire danger. AUSTIN, Texas — It’s that time of year, when high temperatures, dry soil and high winds combine to create fire weather concerns across Central Texas. Geography, structure density and other factors can contribute to just how much danger a given area is at risk of. To help Austin residents have a better idea of their neighborhood’s risk,…

Austin plans to greatly expand the amount of land, and therefore homes, considered at risk of wildfire damage. Council members are scheduled to discuss updating rules surrounding Austin’s WUI, or Wildland-Urban Interface, later this month. This is the area where wilderness and development meet, and where there is a higher risk that a fire burning in a wooded area could jump to homes and businesses. The move would put 71% of the city’s land parcels…

While appreciative of new grants, departments in Bertram and Marble Falls are still facing challenges, calling water and people their most precious resources. MARBLE FALLS, Texas — Fire departments in Bertram, Burnet and Marble Falls are getting money to buy more equipment and strengthen their responses to emergencies. This $2.1 million in funding will come from grants from Texas A&M Forest Service, which is crucial for rural towns in the Hill Country.  For a number of…

As wildfires burned near Buda and Kyle last week, some Hays County residents were confused by alerts they received from county agencies. HAYS COUNTY, Texas — Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra is addressing concerns over communication issues during wildfires last week. As wildfires broke out across the area, some residents were confused by alerts and multiple evacuation orders sent across different platforms. KUT reported that initial push alerts and posts from the Hays County Sheriff’s Office about…

Alerts and multiple evacuation orders in Hays County left people confused Tuesday as wildfires broke out across the region. Initial push alerts and posts from the Hays County Sheriff’s Office about a wildfire east of Buda didn’t explicitly mention a fire, but referred to an “ongoing incident” and instructed people within a 3-mile radius to evacuate. Screenshot from phone One of the alerts Hays County residents received Tuesday that referred to an “ongoing incident.” Toni…

There were at least eight reported fires in Williamson County on Tuesday. WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas — Crews have contained a wildfire in southeast Williamson County that began on Tuesday. As of Wednesday evening, the Tree Line fire was 4 acres and 100% contained, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service. The fire burned southeast of Taylor off CR 480, south of CR 479. The Williamson County Office of Emergency Management said as of 3:45 p.m….