Austin Texas News

A flood watch has been issued for Austin and the surrounding area, including Bastrop, Caldwell, Fayette, Hays, Travis and Williamson counties, until 9 p.m. Monday. The National Weather Service says up to three inches of rain is expected Monday, with isolated amounts up to 4-6 inches, which could cause flash flooding. NWS officials warned that rivers, creeks and other low-lying areas, as well as low water crossings, may be flooded at some point during the…

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has selected a panel of experts to review the circumstances and cause of the wildfire that broke out last week in Bastrop State Park. Officials say the fire, which began last Tuesday, Jan. 18, was likely caused by a prescribed burn in the park. The fire burned 812 acres, drawing in emergency workers from around the state and requiring some 250 Bastrop families to evacuate. Residents were allowed to…

The burn ban goes into effect Saturday morning. BASTROP, Texas — Bastrop County Judge Paul Pape issued in emergency burn ban and disaster declaration Friday in response to the ongoing dry weather conditions. The ban goes into effect the morning of Jan. 22 and prohibits outdoor burning in hopes of mitigating the public safety hazard posed by wildfires as dry weather continues.  A violation of the order occurs when a person lights any combustible or…

Although clearing the area around your home can help, fire safety expert Jeffrey Shapiro says you should evacuate your home before you feel things become dangerous. AUSTIN, Texas — With the Rolling Pines wildfire in Bastrop County having forced hundreds of families from their homes as a precaution, KVUE checked in with a fire safety expert to learn how homeowners can better protect their homes. If you’re within a mile of a fire, or even…

Bastrop County residents were allowed to return to their homes Wednesday, a day after a prescribed burn set by Texas Parks and Wildlife in Bastrop State Park escaped from fire managers, officials said, growing to about 780 acres — more than five times its intended size. About 150 households were forced to evacuate Tuesday, officials said. No injuries or property damage has been reported, and the 783-acre fire was 30% contained as of 3:30 p.m….

BASTROP, Texas — A prescribed burn got out of hand Tuesday afternoon, setting off a wildfire that burned through several hundred acres in the Bastrop, Texas, area. Despite some warning signs, including notable wind speeds, the prescribed burn was permitted as planned. But just how fast were the winds going? For context, here’s a timeline of Tuesday’s events:

Firefighters say they made “good progress” overnight Tuesday and into Wednesday morning in stopping the spread of the Rolling Pines Fire in Bastrop County, which has led to the evacuation of about 250 families. As of 9 a.m. Wednesday, the wildfire has burned 783 acres and is 30% contained. While some evacuated residents south of FM 1441 were able to return to their homes, officials say the main evacuation area and State Highway 21 remain…

The Texas A&M Forest Service spent Jan. 18 readying firefighting resources in anticipation of an increase in wildfire activity caused by prefrontal weather conditions approaching the state. The Texas A&M Forest Service is anticipating an increase in wildfire danger due to forecasted weather conditions. (Texas A&M Forest Service photo) The fire environment will include elevated to critical fire weather, with above normal temperatures and wind speeds near 20 mph in conjunction with freeze-cured grasses across the landscape….

A wildfire in Bastrop County is threatening neighborhoods and has so far burned at least 300 acres, the Texas A&M Forest Service says. The fire is 0% contained, emergency officials say. Residents of Pine Hill Estates, including Pine Hill Drive, were told to evacuate their homes at 2:55 p.m. Tuesday. That was followed by evacuations of Pine Tree Loop, Linda Lane and Lisa Lane at 3:20 p.m. State Highway 21 has been closed north of…

Officials say the fire started in relation to a prescribed burn. BASTROP, Texas — Officials are evacuating a street in Bastrop County as first responders work to get a massive wildfire fire under control Tuesday afternoon. According to the Bastrop County Office of Emergency Management, the wildfire is at 100 Park Road 1A in Bastrop, just north of SH 71 and south of SH 21. Officials are asking the following residents to evacuate:  Update at…

Officials say the fire started in relation to a prescribed burn. BASTROP, Texas — Officials are evacuating a street in Bastrop County as first responders work to get a massive wildfire fire under control Tuesday afternoon. According to the Bastrop County Office of Emergency Management, the wildfire is at 100 Park Road 1A in Bastrop. Officials are evacuating those on Pine Hill Drive.  Some road closures have also been implemented at SH 21 at the…

AUSTIN, Texas — The Austin Disaster Relief Network (ADRN) sent a shipment of emergency supplies on Monday to residents impacted by by the Heartland tornadoes in Mayfield, Kentucky.  The VERIFY team found that the tornado that hit Mayfield was spawned from a storm system that caused more than 62 tornadoes, according to surveys by the National Weather Service (NWS). It was both the longest and strongest tornado of the outbreak, but its path is only…

The nonprofit is looking for essential items for care kits and donations for the disaster relief fund it created. AUSTIN, Texas — The Austin Disaster Relief Network (ADRN) is asking Austin-area residents to donate supplies and funds to help victims of the deadly tornadoes that hit several states. The organization said it is collecting essential items for care kits and monetary donations to send to the impacted areas over the coming weeks. Care kits include blankets,…

Some steps include stockpiling food, water and material to treat icy roads. Officials say other steps, like putting generators in more buildings, need funding. TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas — Emergency management officials in Travis County are preparing for any potential severe winter weather that may come this cold season.  They are preparing by stockpiling shelf-stable food and water and getting material to treat icy roads, according to a report from KVUE’s news partners at the Austin…