A grass fire that started early Saturday afternoon near Fredericksburg was burning an estimated 8,640 acres as of around 6 p.m., spurring evacuations in the Central Texas community.
While it’s not immediately clear what sparked the blaze, it arrived amid prime fire conditions. The National Weather Service said a Red Flag Warning remains in effect for western portions of Central Texas until 9 p.m. due to low humidity and high wind. A burn ban has also been in effect for Gillespie County since March 10.
And as of Saturday evening, the Crabapple Fire is one of over 30 fires burning across the state — including two major blazes in the Panhandle — according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.
The Crabapple Fire started at around 1 p.m. north of downtown Fredericksburg, according to the Fredericksburg Fire and EMS. In a news release posted after 5 p.m., the department said the fire had moved east across Highway 16 North.
With some evacuations already reported as of 3:10 p.m., the department now urges anyone located between the highway and FM 1361, as well as between Ranch Road 1323 and Ranch Road 2721, to be prepared to do so.
Just after 7 p.m., the department also directed all evacuees to Zion Lutheran Church at 426 W Main St. It previously said shelter was available at Faith Baptist Church at 3022 N State Highway 16.
There is also currently no containment of the blaze, according to Fredericksburg Fire Chief Lynn Bizzell.
Bizzell’s crews are working on the ground while receiving air support from the Texas A&M Forest Services and the Texas Division of Emergency Management, according to the news release.
“Currently embers are flying up to half a mile and causing more fires in the area,” Bizzell said in the news release. “Our resources are working to protect structures.”
There are so far no official reports of structural damage or losses.
Smoke that’s believed to have come from the fire could also be seen across Austin, the city’s fire department said in a social media post just after 3:45 p.m.
The Crabapple Fire is the second-largest fire currently burning in the state, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.
The agency says the biggest active blaze is the Windmill Fire in Roberts County in the Panhandle, which has also been facing major wind and a dust storm. As of Saturday afternoon, it has burned 23,000 acres though it was 65% contained.
The region is also battling another major one called the Rest Area Fire, which is located in Gray County east of Amarillo. It has burned more than 7,900 acres but 65% of it was contained as of Saturday night.
Both fires have led to evacuations in their respective areas, according to the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
