Bastrop County Fires ~ Part 2

These are photos from the end of the day on Monday, 9/5/2011. Monday was a real challenge because we had only a couple of hours sleep Sunday night. We were too amped up and just could not stop our minds from running through all the scenarios.

We went into Bastrop to see if there was anyway we could get to our house. A few of our friends had gotten in about 7 AM, but when we arrived later the roads were blocked and manned by police. We saw friends and found out a few other friends had gotten in prior to the road block. We could not do anything at that point and decided to return to our friend's home.

On the way back we could see another enormous fire to the west of Bastrop. I called my friend to tell her we could see smoke in the distance. She went out to check and talk to neighbors who were watering their surroundings and packing their cars in case of the need for an evacuation in that part of the county.  It was named the Union Chapel Road fire and of course my friend lives on Union Chapel Road. Luckily for her (and us) the fire was just slightly to the south of her road and the winds were coming from the north.

The winds on Monday were gusting to 40 miles/hour, the temperatures were more moderate in the upper 80s, the humidity at 6 % because of a northerly front that came through during the night on Sunday. These conditions caused huge problems for the fire fighters. Air support was about the only thing that could be used to the east of the county because the fire was so fast moving.

This fire caused an evacuation and eventually consumed 800 acres and (I think) about 30 homes. Because planes and helicopters were already here fighting the fire on the east side of the county they were diverted to fight this fire. I think that is why it was contained in a little over a day. As of Wednesday evening people in the Union Chapel Road area were being allowed back to their homes or in some cases to view the damage.

 On Monday the information is that 300 homes were destroyed. As of Thursday night 1386 homes are destroyed and 34,000 acres with 2 deaths (not firefighters).



This photo was taken Monday evening on the hill west of Bastrop.

  We returned to our friend's home after a roller coaster day of worrying about two fires. We were all exhausted and slept soundly for 7 hours Monday night. I took no chances and took a Tylenol PM capsule to ensure that I would sleep.

The town of Bastrop is in the valley of the Colorado River.

These photos do not begin to express the horror of what these fires caused. What looks like clouds is smoke that extends as far as one can see from north to south.

Sunset from the same hilltop.

People on the hill gathering to watch the fire.

The hills on the east side of Bastrop is where I live.

Today is Friday and things are very different now. It got worse before it got better which I will explain later.