Leon County, Texas; September 7, Noon:
The Concord-Robbins wildfire burning in Leon County is reported as being 70% percent contained, with firefighters focusing on County Roads 427 and 428, near the Clear Creek area.
The fire has consumed 5,000+ acres since igniting on Sunday, it is no longer spreading, but rekindled areas with hotspots are a major issue, keeping the area dangerous and firefighters on the move.
Evacuated residents are asked to please stay away as conditions are dangerous and many residents remain without electricity. Mandatory evacuations remain in place for the residents of the Concord and Robbins communites, with no time table set for when residents will be able to return home.
Evacuees are asked to go to the First Baptist Church in Centerville. There are other shelters set up throughout the county for evacuees to be directed to if the First Baptist Church should fill up.
Leon County Emergency Management advised that the command center is fully stocked with drinks and supplies, with more donations already waiting to be picked up. Progress has been made on this wildfire and they believe they have enough supplies at this point to see them through the remainder of the fire. Information on what you can do to help Leon County residents displaced by the Concord-Robbins fire is included at the end of this report.
On the political front, Texas Governor Rick Perry cut short a campaign appearance in South Carolina to return to Texas to address the wildfire situation on Monday afternoon. After touring the area by air, Gov. Perry met with emergency management and other local officals of the Steiner Ranch community, who have been fighting fires in the area.
In a news appearance Tuesday, Perry had this to say: “These fires are serious and widespread, and as mean as I have ever seen, burning more than 1,000 homes since this wildfire season began. Texas appreciates the resources and support we continue to recieve from across the state and across the country to fight these fires, and the efforts of the brave men and women who put themselves in harm’s way to protect Texans’ lives and property. Our thoughts and prayers are with those who are impacted by these fires”.
The Texas Forest Service responded to 63 new fires over the Labor Day weekend and continued to assist with approximately 81 fires already burning.
State Resources being used to assist Texas wildfire response:
Texas Forest Service with air tankers, helicopters, and aerial supervision aircraft
Texas Military Forces- two CH-47 Chinooks and two UH-60 Blackhawks staged in Austin; two UH-60 Blackhawks in San Antonio, and three wildfire support packages on the ground. Those consist of 16 personnel and four dozers each.
Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)- Emergency personnel, Highway Patrol, air assets and a mobile communications center in Bastrop County.
Texas Department of Transportation (TxDot)- personnel, equipment, and fuel to responders.
Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS)- 13 command vehicles, 50 fire engines, 121 personnel (resources in Central Texas includes five command vehicles, 19 fire engines, and 47 personnel).
In addition, the state’s elite search team, Texas Task Force 1, has been deployed to help with the ongoing efforts in Bastrop County. Texas Task Force 1 is a 600 member force that is nationally distinguished for their unique search, rescue and recovery skills. Texas Task Force 1 was among those deployed to New York City after the events of September 11, 2001, and to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina hit land in 2005.
Meanwhile, this weekend, President Obama made appearances in New Jersey and Michigan, signing disaster declarations for hurricane damaged Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Virginia, and Connecticut. On September 6, the President issued statements regarding the appointment of Robert Gates as Chancellor of William and Mary, and announced his intent to nominate and appoint several individuals to key Administration posts, including 11 posts on the President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts for the John F. Kennedy Center. Today he is meeting with advisors and having lunch with the Vice President at the White House. He has not issued a statement regarding the Labor Day weekend wildfires in Texas.
Governor Perry has renewed a state disaster proclamation originally issued on December 21, 2010. In April, a request for a Major Disaster Declaration was sent to President Barak Obama, which was denied. This declaration would have made the state of Texas eligible to receive direct federal assistance and emergency protective measures. On May 26, the denial was appealed and partial approval of relief was received on July 1, 2011.
More than three and a half million acres have burned in Texas since December 21, 2010. This includes the Possum Kingdom Fire that has been burning since April 2011, consuming over 150,000 acres and at least 90% of the Possum Kingdom State park.
What you can do to help:
There are several ways you can help those displaced by the Leon County wildfires:
Online, visit
https://www.easttexasfoodbank.org/kbtx , by following this link, you will be taken to the website for the East Texas Food Bank where you can make a monetary donation online to purchase meals for Leon County fire victims. Donation amounts are from $10.00 up to whatever amount you would like to donate.
The First Baptist Church in Centerville is accepting clothing and appliance donations for Leon County fire victims. You can contact the church at 903-536-2302.
To make a monetary donation to the fire departments of Leon County, please contact Beverly Wilson at 903-536-2331.
Sources:
First Baptist Church Centerville
Leon County Fire at 70% Containment; Rashi Vats, KBTX News
Leon County Emergency Management on Facebook
Gov. Perry: All Necessary State Resources Made Available to Protect Lives, Property; Press Release, September 5, 2011
Gov. Perry Takes Aerial Tour of Wildfire Damage in Central Texas; Press Release, September 6, 2011
Tex as Task Force 1 Deploys to Bastrop County ; Press Release, September 6, 2011
President’s Schedule; September 3-7, 2011
Briefing Room; Statements and Releases; September 3-6, 2011
Texas wildfires chart a new path of destruction, Angela K Brown, Associated Press, April 20, 2011