Massive wildfire breaks out in Walker County, Texas - with THOUSANDS urged to evacuate their homes

[mystery-ak]

Massive wildfire breaks out in Walker County, Texas - with THOUSANDS urged to evacuate their homes

    Texas officials have asked residents near a 1,000 acre wildfire to abandon their homes after extending 500 acres in just a few hours
    The major fire in Walker County is said to have started early Friday afternoon in a wooded area before quickly engulfing the area
    It remains unclear at this time what caused the fire or  if anyone has been injured

By Joe Hutchison For Dailymail.Com

Updated: 00:40 EDT, 2 September 2023

Officials in Texas are urging residents to flee their homes after a massive wildfire broke out north of Houston.

According to the Walker County Office of Emergency Management, a major fire erupted Friday afternoon in a wooded area along Lost Indian Camp Road.

The latest update from officials said that the fire had stretched to encompass 1,200 acres and had been contained by ten percent.

Just hours previously, the fire was estimated to be spread out across 100 acres, before growing to 500 acres, and then 1000 acres - prompting officials to ask those living nearby to flee.


more
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12472221/walker-county-texas-wildfire-evacuations.html

[Bigun]

Just a few miles North of me and for so long as the wind remains from the East or Southeast it won't come this way.

Firefighters are being well taken care of in the food and drink department.

Fire is East of interstate 45 which will likely serve as a firebreak to the West.

[berdie]

Thanks for the wind direction post. I've been trying to find that on the internet. Hopefully, that means it won't move into Huntsville proper.

[Bigun]

Thanks for the wind direction post. I've been trying to find that on the internet. Hopefully, that means it won't move into Huntsville proper.

Not if the winds remain from the current direction or turn further from the South. The only municipalities North of this are Midway (very small) and Madisonville which is not near at present. There may be some land owned by prison units involved or in danger but the prison units themselves or currently OK. @berdie 

[libertybele]

Yikes! Stay safe @Bigun @berdie and all TX Briefers who maybe affected.  Prayers up!

[Cyber Liberty]

I used to live in Cherokee County....

[Bigun]

I used to live in Cherokee County....

Two Counties NE of me.

[Smokin Joe]

Prayers up for y'all and anyone whose person or property is in the way of this.

[berdie]

Not if the winds remain from the current direction or turn further from the South. The only municipalities North of this are Midway (very small) and Madisonville which is not near at present. There may be some land owned by prison units involved or in danger but the prison units themselves or currently OK. @berdie 

Although it's been a couple of years since I've traveled that direction...it has always seemed to me that the land around I45 is more desolate than on most interstates. Until you get to Huntsville anyway. The news this morning is saying the fire is 40 per cent contained. Fingers crossed. And prayers for the fire fighters and anyone in the path.

I can't imagine evacuating an entire prison so hopefully that doesn't become necessary. What a nightmare that could be.

I know you posted you were pretty far away, but the smoke has to be traveling. Stay safe @Bigun

[mystery-ak]

WALKER COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- The Florida Forest Service is assisting Texas firefighters as they enter day three of battling the Game Preserve fire north of Huntsville in Walker County.

As of Sunday morning, the wildfire is 40% contained after burning 4,256 acres of a wooded area just off FM-247, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.

Lela Braunsch, with the Florida Forest Service's Incident Management Team, told Eyewitness News the fire grew to 4,256 acres since its last update Saturday at 8:51 p.m., when it was 4,254 acres.

The forest services said its goal is to slow the spread of flames as much as possible.

more
https://abc13.com/texas-game-preserve-fire-walker-county-wildfire-whats-burning-huntsville-lost-indian-camp-road/13731606/

[berdie]

Thanks for the update @mystery-ak . That sounds encouraging!