Hidden Pines Fire, Bastrop County TX

I have heard a couple of news reports recently on my local media outlets about the Hidden Pines Fire that has burned 4,582 acres in Bastrop County, Texas. The fire, first reported on Tuesday, October 13th is currently at 25 percent containment and at least nine residences being destroyed according to the most current report from Inciweb on the Hidden Pines Fire (October 16th, 2:45 PM EDT)

As always, Bill Gabbert of Wildfire Today has good coverage on the Hidden Pines Fire in an article that he last updated early in the morning of October 16th. Her reports on the difference in figures for the number of residences destroyed in an update written at 1:15 AM CDT on October 16th:

Recent mapping of the Hidden Pines Fire north of Smithville, Texas shows that it grew about 200 acres over the last 24 hours to 4,582, according to the Bastrop County Office of Emergency Management. Today they are saying “approximately 40 structures” burned, but did not specify how many of those were residences. On Thursday local fire officials reported that nine homes had burned. The Southern Area Coordination Center’s Morning Report on Friday, October 16 said nine residences have burned.

This morning I heard a report on National Public Radio as I was driving on the Hidden Pines Fire, reporting that a DC-10 tanker is going to work the fire today. I was glad to read Bill Gabberts article on the Hidden Pines Fire that the DC-10 is supposed to be available today (October 16th) to work the fire.

For those interested, there is a twitter feed (no account necessary) on the Hidden Pines Fire with lots of photos and updated information. There are a couple of nice photographs on the twitter feed of a SEAT and a helicopter and bucket.

Here are two reports from local media on the fire:

• KVUE-ABC (Austin TX) has a nice webpage (not always sure how long links like this are up) with day by day reports and some nice videos available here.
• The CBS Station in Dallas Fort Worth is also covering the fire, here is a report from midday on October 16th reporting that "officials believe that a farming accident may have sparked the fire," go here to read the report.