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KRTS Fire Updates: Sunday

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Union Pacific trestle ablaze on Saturday (KRTS/Billy Marginot)

SUNDAY 12:25 PM - We are increasing our web capacity. If you get knocked off the webstream, reconnect immediately, we are increasing capacity to serve all the web listeners.

SUNDAY 11 AM – KRTS just spoke to Jan Folkerson, a Wildland Urban Interface Specialist for the Texas Forest Service, and the state liaison for the Firewise Communities program. She was actually in the area yesterday to teach fire safety workshops, and was in the DMR teaching one when the fire first started heading towards Fort Davis.

Fulkerson has confirmed that between 40 to 50 homes were lost in and near Fort Davis. The fire did get into the State Park, but all structures were protected.  Currently, TIFMAS, Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System, from Midland is in the area doing structure protection in Fort Davis. There are still a few small fires and smoldering embers in town.

Currently the Texas Forest Service and the US Forest Service are on the scene, both in Fort Davis and at the fire, which is burning in Wild Rose Pass on both sides of Texas Hwy 17. Weather conditions are allowing them to work the fire, but there are concerns that the wind will pick up this afternoon. They’re focusing on the east flank of the fire, because winds will be out of the west today. Dozers from the Marfa Volunteer Fire Department are working both sides of the blaze. They’re trying to set up lines to contain the fire and stop in from spreading. Currently the fire is 0% contained.

There is no official estimate of the acreage burned, but the rough guess from Texas Forest Service is 60,000 acres. Again, this is just an estimate and not an official number.

Tomorrow, Texas Environmental Quality will be on the scene to help with livestock clean up around Fort Davis.

The power is still out, and estimates are that it may not be back up for 5 days. Right now AEP is trying to put together a main line between Marfa and Fort Davis. It may be in by as soon as Monday night. From there, AEP would begin replacing and repairing feeder lines into town.  There are many downed poles and power lines in Fort Davis. Residents are advised not to touch downed power lines.