Comal County Fire Marshal Kory Klabunde said there is limited information tonight about a large brush fire burning in Blanco County.
On Facebook, he said Canyon Lake Fire/EMS and Bulverde/Spring Branch firefighters are assisting with the fire.
“Please be safe,” he said. “We are under a burn ban due to the extremely dry conditions were are currently experiencing.”
The Blanco fire is near the Hays County line. Single-engine air tankers are landing on Canyon Lake to fill up with water before taking off to Blanco County.
Texas A&M Forest Service reports that as of 9:20 p.m. the 800-acre ‘Smoke Rider’ fire is 30% contained. Brush, short grass and timber are fueling the fire, whose coordinates are 30.162 latitude, -98.244 longitude.
The Forest Service said weather continues to concern firefighters: “Hot and dry conditions will continue through the period, with high temperatures peaking near 100 degrees and minimum afternoon humidity falling into the 25-30 percent range. Breezy southerly winds will continue through the period as well, with sustained speeds near 15 mph and gusts near 25 mph.”
Blanco County Emergency Management posted this update to its Facebook page at 9 p.m.:
* The Smoke Rider Fire is currently at 800 acres with 30% containment per Texas A&M Forest Service.
* The fire spans from RR165 in the area of Las Colinas up to US HWY 290 E.
* Highway 290 and FM 165 are still closed due to the fire.
To track the Blanco fire and others across Texas visit Texas A&M Forest Service Incident Viewer by clicking here.
Blanco County Emergency Management posted this update to its Facebook page around 6:30 p.m.:
Blanco County is still working on an active fire on US 290E and Ranch Road 165. US Hwy 290 E is still shut down in both directions. On top of this Blanco County is also working a major MVA north of Johnson City on HWy 281 so please be careful with all the emergency vehicles in the county and please be patient as we are trying to get traffic moving.
Blanco County Emergency Management posted this update to its Facebook page around 3 p.m.:
Multiple fire departments from Blanco and Hays Counties are on the scene of a large vegetation fire on FM 165 in the area of Las Colinas Dr. The fire is currently estimated at 250 acres by air assets on scene. Evacuations have been requested in the area as the fire continues to move North/Northwest towards US-290. A shelter has been opened at the Blanco Methodist Church.
