Austin Texas News

People jumped into the water Tuesday in the Hawaiian town of Lahaina on Maui to escape flames and smoke from a wildfire. Another wildfire, in central Texas just north of Austin, destroyed an apartment building Tuesday night.

Gusts up to 80 mph were hitting hard. In one town, people were jumping into the water to escape a blaze.

The Texas A&M Forest Service has raised the State Wildfire Preparedness Level to Level 4 due to the recent increase in wildfire activity statewide and growing potential for wildfires to become more severe and harder to control. “The decision to move to a Preparedness Level 4 indicates that the complexity of wildfires across Texas is increasing to where they require more time, personnel and equipment to contain and put out,” said Wes Moorehead, Texas A&M Forest Service…

A massive storm system wreaked havoc on the South and East Coast Monday night. Thousands were left without power, and at least two people were killed. Meg Oliver reports from Maryland.

Storms featuring hail and lightning in some places also caused thousands of flight cancelations or delays and left more than 1.1 million homes and businesses in the dark.

Some residents are calling for better evacuation options in communities with one outlet. HAYS COUNTY, Texas — The devastation left behind by the Oak Grove wildfire in Hays County is jaw-dropping. Charred vegetation now lines Fox Road.  Hays County officials say they were able to improve communication to residents during this incident, but a big concern for residents now is evacuation routes for people who live in areas with just one way out. Jacob is…

The East Coast is facing a forecast of severe thunderstorms, damaging winds, large hail and tornadoes.

A mid-air collision of two helicopters dispatched to fight a fire east of Los Angeles Sunday night caused one of the aircraft to crash, killing three people onboard. The other chopper landed safely. CBS News Los Angeles reporter Kara Finnstrom has the latest.

Millions of Americans are under severe weather warnings with the South still enduring triple-digit heat and a tornado-producing storm system in the Midwest. CBS News correspondent Omar Villafranca has the latest.

While Texas and other southern states swelter in triple-digit temperatures, the Midwest and states to the east are facing the threat of severe storms. CBS News’ Omar Villafranca reports from Dallas.

A home collapsed into a raging river swollen by waters from a glacial dam release north of the state capital of Juneau, the National Weather Service said.

As of Sunday evening, the Oak Grove fire is 50% contained. AUSTIN, Texas — At least one home has been destroyed as firefighters in Hays County battle a wildfire that sparked near San Marcos on Saturday afternoon. According to Hays County officials and the Texas A&M Forest Service, the 400-acre fire, now being called the Oak Grove fire, sparked up around 3:15 p.m. on Aug. 5. The Hays County Wildland Task Force responded, and other…

As of Sunday evening, the Oak Grove fire is 50% contained. AUSTIN, Texas — At least one home has been destroyed as firefighters in Hays County battle a wildfire that sparked near San Marcos on Saturday afternoon. According to Hays County officials and the Texas A&M Forest Service, the 400-acre fire, now being called the Oak Grove fire, sparked up around 3:15 p.m. on Aug. 5. The Hays County Wildland Task Force responded, and other…

The fire – named the Powder Keg Pine fire – burned in the vicinity of State Highway 71 and Harmon Road. BASTROP COUNTY, Texas — A 117-acre wildfire in Bastrop County is now fully contained. The fire – named the Powder Keg Pine fire – was in the vicinity of State Highway 71 and Harmon Road. Crews worked several days to get the fire completely contained. The Austin Fire Department and Travis County ESDs called in…

A wildfire in Hays County is estimated to be burning across about 100 acres near the 200 block of Oak Grove Drive, south of the Blanco River. The Texas A&M Forest Service said the fire was 0% contained as of late Saturday afternoon. “It’s not a mandatory evacuation,” said Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra in a live stream from the site of the fire. “But if you live in this area you should consider, absolutely,…