Fire crews battle high winds to subdue Marble Falls-area blaze
DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE STAFF
MARBLE FALLS — While a Feb. 25 blaze only burned 10 acres southeast of Marble Falls on FM 2147, the conditions raised concerns with area firefighters.
“With the winds driving the fire, it was hard to really get out in front of it because embers were flying a hundred yards ahead of the fire, so we were constantly trying catch up with it,” said Marble Falls Area Volunteer Fire Department Chief Terry White. “It was also in a canyon, so we were climbing up and down it trying to get control of the fire.”
Marble Falls crews responded to the fire in the 2100 block of 2147 east of U.S. 281 about 2:30 p.m. Feb. 25.
High winds apparently kicked up a brush-pile burn from about two weeks ago, White said.
“People need to realize those burns can often have hot areas for several days,” he said. “Sometimes, the roots can burn for several weeks.”
Along with the Marble Falls firefighters, crews from Horseshoe Bay Fire Rescue, Cottonwood Shores VFD, Spicewood VFD, Granite Shoals Fire Department, Round Mountain VFD, Johnson City VFD, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Texas Forest Service responded.
Firefighters stayed on scene until about 11 p.m. but returned Feb. 26 for further mop-up.
White said despite what seems like a small fire at 10 acres, fire crews found themselves in some tough areas and conditions.
“It was in a rugged area that made it difficult to fight,” he said. “It was real frightening at times because there was a lot of cedar slash piled up as high as your shoulder.”
Even though winds on Feb. 26 weren’t as high as the day of the blaze, White said firefighters kept a close eye on the land. State and federal crews brought in heavy equipment, including bulldozers to cut fire breaks.
“The good thing is nobody was hurt,” White said.
For up-to-date information on burn bans, go to www.burnetcountytexas.org, www.co.llano.tx.us or www.co.blanco.tx.us.
daniel@thepicayune.com