46 acres catch fire at Bastrop State Park, eastbound Hwy. 21 lane closed

With a wind shift forecasted for March 23, the Office of Emergency Management urged motorists along Hwy. 21 to exercise caution when traveling between Loop 150 and Norfolk Drive—a roadway that had an eastbound lane closed as of 10 a.m. March 23.

A Texas Parks and Wildlife Department helicopter conducted water drops March 23 on the most active areas of the Spring Pine Fire, according to the Office of Emergency Management.

How the fire started is still being investigated, Hillary Long, an assistant coordinator with the Office of Emergency Management, told Bastrop County commissioners.

What else?

During its March 23 meeting, the Bastrop County Commissioners Court unanimously voted to extend a burn ban through April 13.

“There will be unseasonably hot temperatures this week with no rain in the forecast,” Long said. “The fire danger ratings for the next few days are moderate to high. With this information, the fire chiefs unanimously supported extending the burn ban.”

Bastrop County outlined the following enforcement measures if there is an outdoor fire:

• Fire departments will respond to a scene to contain and extinguish the fire.
• A peace officer will be sent to the scene to investigate the nature of the fire.
• A fine of up to $500 is possible if an individual knowingly violates the emergency order.