Moore Peak Fire at 500 acres
Entire hillsides were consumed in the Moore’s Peak Fire on July 13 in Llano County near Slab Road and Texas 71. Dozens of first responders converged on the blaze and battled it throughout Thursday. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissiey
Firefighters were still battling the estimated 500-acre Moore Peak Fire on rugged ranchland near CR 307 and Texas 71 as of Friday, July 14. Over 100 first responders converged on the blaze as it spread across southeast Llano County on Thursday afternoon. The fire was 45 percent contained as of 10 a.m. Friday.
“Today, our plan is to work the heel of the fire, where it originated from, and work around the west side of the fire to finish our fire breaks,” Llano Volunteer Fire Department Lt. Grant Harden, the fire’s incident commander, told DailyTrib.com on Friday morning. “We were very lucky last night. The fire really laid down when the humidity came up. Temperature goes down and humidity goes up, that’s what you want.”
Harden was optimistic the fire would be 100 percent contained by Saturday morning at the latest as long as the weather holds. As the day’s temperature increases and humidity drops, the fire risk rises. Temperatures were expected to reach 107 degrees in Llano County on Friday.
“Right now, everybody is safe. We’re in pretty good shape,” Harden said. “But that could change with the wind, humidity, and temperature.”
Firefighters responded to calls about a grass fire at about 1:15 p.m. on Thursday in remote ranchland south of the CR 307, known as Slab Road, and east of Texas 71. The fire was a raging inferno within an hour.
The rough terrain surrounding the start point made the blaze difficult to fight, but fast-acting firefighters and excavator crews managed to cut fire lines on the perimeter that helped slow the spread by evening.
Nearby residents were evacuated from their homes by mid-afternoon Thursday but allowed to return by midnight.
“I only had enough time to go in and get my dogs out of our houses, and the fire was already on top of us,” said Donald Sharp, a resident whose family property was just yards away from the flames.
Sharpe and his family were able to make it home shortly before Slab Road was closed down due to fire danger as high winds pushed the flames toward the county road. They released their livestock before fleeing their property in the hopes their animals would run to safety. The home was undamaged thanks to the efforts of firefighters and air crews dumping water around their property.
“I thank God and the firefighters deeply, with all my heart,” Sharp said. “We owe them all so much.”
Sharp and his mother were trying to locate their missing livestock on Friday morning as emergency crews planned to deal the finishing blow to the fire.
“Once we cut the (fire break) lines, we’ll do what’s called a burnout,” Llano VFD Lt. Harden explained. “We’ll burn everything behind the fire breaks.”
Emergency crews were supported by the Hill Country Auxiliary, a volunteer organization based in Kingsland that helps keep firefighters and first responders hydrated and fed during crises.
“I just cannot thank the community enough,” said HCA President Kathryn Aponte. “(Thursday), even though it was hectic, it was an amazing day. It shows the strength and unity of a small community, and we are just blessed to have this.”
Volunteers provided food and water to the beleaguered emergency crews Thursday as the fire raged. H-E-B and Ace Hardware in Kingsland donated hundreds of pounds of snacks and beverages. Even more supplies were dropped off by good samaritans.