Central Texas Wildfire Update: $250 Million in Damages

Flickr/Texas Parks and Wildlife

Earlier this week, residents of badly hit neighborhoods in Bastrop, such as Tahitian Village, were allowed to return to their homes and take inventory of the damage for the first time since their evacuation. The worst fire season in Texas history has caused upwards of 250 million dollars of damage across Central Texas. 150 million dollars of damages occurred in Bastrop alone. Reports are coming in today that the Bastrop area fire is now 80% contained.

In an effort to expedite the recovery process for the worst hit residents, The Bastrop County Office of Emergency Management has requested additional funds from FEMA to help the city deal with the ample amounts of debris left behind after the Bastrop County Complex Fire burned over 34,000 acres of land and residential area. Perhaps the most harrowing evidence of the extent of the destruction comes from the Bastrop County Office of Emergency Management’s fact sheet, released on Wednesday, Sept. 14th on their Facebook page:

ANIMAL CARCASSES: A burn ban is in place for Bastrop County. Burning carcasses or any debris is prohibited. For more information on what to do with animal carcasses if found, please call the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) at 512-339-2929.

As more and more data continues to come in regarding Central Texas fires, the real story seems to be the massive amounts of outreach and help that empathetic Texans have offered to those affected.

Two big festivals this weekend are now putting efforts in place to raise money for fire victims. Austin City Limits and C3 events have teamed up to raise money and donations, and they've even enlisted the help of artists, such as Foster the People and their “Do Good Bus”. Likewise, Ditch the Fest Fest, a local alternative to Austin City Limits, is also holding a benefit auction and will donate most of the proceeds to fire victims.

In another show of spirit and support, the Bastrop High School football team took the field last night after the previous week’s classes were cancelled due to the fire danger. According to a Houston Chronicle report, the team took the field to a sign that read: “out of the ashes we rise”. The Bastrop Bears went on to defeat San Marcos.

Even with all the help coming in from around the state and within the community, the cleanup process still remains a lengthy, laborious one.