The Tejano Canyon Fire began Thursday June 2 at around 10:30 AM, just north of the Davis Mountains Resort outside of Fort Davis. It moved to the north and west over the weekend, and at last estimate has burned 12,311 acres.
KRTS just spoke with D. L. Wilkerson, Public Information Officer for the Texas Forest Service, who visited the active area of the fire this morning. Currently, the fire is burning within the 118 Loop. “The fire is south of the western end of 118, where the road comes out of the mountains,” said Wilkerson.
At this point, it is considered 75% contained, and 118 has been back open as of Sunday afternoon.
Wilkerson said crews had laid 2 miles of fire line on the northwest side of the fire. The fire is burning in that direction, but has not yet reached the containment line. According to Wilkerson, fire crews may do a burn out of this area today “if there is an opportunity.” Wilkerson describes today’s weather conditions as ideal for fire fighting.
On Friday night, fire fighting crews performed controlled burns to head off the north and east flanks of the fire, which at that point were 1 mile south of 118, and 3 miles west of the McDonald Observatory, respectively. The fire continued movement to the north and east on Saturday and Sunday, burning through Madera and Elbow Canyon over the weekend.
Sunday afternoon, KRTS’s Pete Szilagyi observed the fire damage from the 188 Scenic Loop. “I peeked in the gate of the (Nature Conservancy’s Davis Mountain) Preserve with my camera. From there it appeared that much of the Preserve east of Madera Creek - excluding the high Livermore country, MCC and headquarters - burned to some extent,” said Szilagyi.
Wilkerson said the Texas Forest Service and local fire departments will continue securing containment today. He believes the fire will be 100% contained by Wednesday, June 8.