Wildfire jumps to 400 acres in Hays County, 30% contained; 1 home destroyed

SAN MARCOS, Texas – Update (2:20 p.m. Sunday): As of Sunday, an estimated 400 acres have now been overtaken by a wildfire in Hays County.

The Office of Emergency Management in Hays County said crews have made good progress with favorable weather conditions overnight and fire activity has diminished with 20% of it being contained.

However, weather concerns remain the same as Saturday with humidity falling critically low to near 20%, wind speeds 10-15 mph from the south, with gusts as high as 25 possible later Sunday. A Red Flag Warning is still in place.

Throughout the day, the fire will be staffed with five dozers, 15 fire engines, and a 20-person hand crew.

Additionally, National Guard helicopters will be used today for water drops in areas of heavy heat.

Residents in the area were evacuated Saturday and are prepared to leave in case the fire escapes containment.

The Office of Emergency Management in Hays County said H-E-B, Summer Moon Coffee and the community helped Sunday by donating food, snacks, water and Gatorade for fire crews.

As of 1:50 p.m. Sunday, they are no longer accepting donations and will inform the public when the need for donations arises.

Stock pic of a plane dipping for water (Hays County Office of Emergency Management)

This story will be updated as information becomes available.

Original (4:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023): A grass fire in Hays County jumped to 300 acres within hours on Saturday, causing households to evacuate as South Central Texas continues to see an elevated fire danger.

The Office of Emergency Management in Hays County said the wildfire, referred to as the Oak Grove Fire, started around 3 p.m. in the 200 block of Oak Grove Road in San Marcos.

The fire has since moved north and crossed the Blanco River, according to the office and the Texas A&M Forest Service.

It is 10% contained as of 9 p.m., the Forest Service said in a Tweet, adding that forward progression has stopped.

“Dozers continue work along the right flank of the fire while hand crews work along the left flank,” the Tweet states. “Engine crews remain engaged in structure protection.”

An earlier Tweet stated that rough terrain and heavy vegetation were slowing the progress.

In a post by the county’s Office of Emergency Management at 6:20 p.m., authorities said the Texas A&M Forest Service is in unified command with Hays County emergency resources.

At least 12 households were told to evacuate as of 5:30 p.m.

A temporary shelter has opened at the Promised Land Church, located at 1650 Lime Kiln Road in San Marcos. The First Baptist Church of Wimberley, located at 15951 Winters Mill Pkwy, is also open as a temporary evacuation shelter.

The flames are moving north and northwest, the office added.

One air attack platform, two helicopters, four single-engine air tankers, two super scooper planes, and one large air tanker are responding to the fire, the office added.

A video posted to KSAT Connect by user Doug Faseler shows a plane scooping water out of Canyon Lake to take to the scene.

According to Your Weather Authority team, fire danger conditions are elevated this weekend across South Central Texas thanks to dry grasses, lower afternoon humidity, and breezy south winds. Avoiding outdoor burning is encouraged, as well as any activity that could create sparks outdoors.”

This is a breaking news story. It will be updated as more information becomes available.

To view more on the current weather conditions, click here.

Read also: