Update: Nov. 4, 5:45 p.m.
Officials will lift the evacuation notice at 6:30 p.m. for those living along Gotier Trace Road and Park Road 1C, between Alum Creek and Cottletown. Residents living off Pines Park Drive are still under evacuation orders. Roadblocks will remain in place and those seeking to drive through the areas must provide proof of residence, according to the Bastrop County Office of Emergency Management.
Update: Nov. 4, 5 p.m.
Kari Hines, public information officer for the Texas A&M Forest Service said the shelters closed at 5 p.m. on Nov. 4, however, anyone needing assistance can call the Bastrop County Long Term Recovery Team at 512-521-3001.
Hines also confirmed a nearby structure fire sparked the wildfire.
Update: Nov. 4, 4 p.m.
Kari Hines, public information officer for the Texas A&M Forest Service said the Hudson fire is 50% contained and has not advanced beyond 400 acres, adding that dozers are still working to improve and widen the containment line.
Update: Nov. 4, 1:15 p.m
Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a news release saying he has deployed additional resources to the county to help fight the Hudson fire.
"I thank our brave first responders who were quick to arrive on scene to begin firefighting efforts to save lives and remain working around the clock to keep their neighbors safe," Abbott said in the release. "The safety and well-being of our fellow Texans is our No. 1 priority as this dangerous wildfire persists. We urge Texans to regularly monitor wildfire conditions and heed the guidance of local officials and emergency personnel to protect yourselves and your loved ones."
Update: Nov. 4, 11:56 a.m.
Nicholas Teague, commissioner for Bastrop-Travis Counties Emergency Services District No.1, confirmed the fire is still at 30% containment and shared fireline images with Community Impact.
Update: Nov. 4, 9:05 a.m.
City of Smithville officials said the emergency shelter will remain open today.
National Interagency Fire Center officials said the fire is now 30% contained and has so far held at 400 acres.
Update: Nov. 4, 7:47 a.m.
Texas A&M Forest Service officials said during a media briefing that no timeline has been established yet for allowing residents to return home, but they hope to make that determination later today depending on the fire activity.
Officials added that evaluations on affected homes will begin and more information will be shared later this afternoon.
An official cause of the fire has not been determined.
Sheila Lowe, the executive director for the Bastrop County Long Term Recovery Team said donations of water and Gatorade can be dropped off at the Smithville Recreation Center at 106 Royston St., or the Smithville Fire Department at 317 NW Loop 230.
Update: Nov. 4, 6 a.m.
According to officials from the National Interagency Fire Center at 6 a.m., the wildfire was at 20% containment and still around 400 acres.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott posted a statement on social media, saying nearly 100 emergency personnel from a range of agencies had been deployed.
"We stand ready to deploy all resources needed to protect Texans," Abbott said in his post. "Praying for the safety of all in Bastrop."
State Rep. Stan Gerdes, who represents Bastrop, also posted online saying there had been no deaths or injuries as of 6 p.m. on Nov. 3; however, a total of 65 people had been evacuated and at least 20 homes were threatened.
"Stay vigilant and pray for our first responders, and the families impacted," he said in the post.
Update: Nov. 3, 9:29 p.m.
The Bastrop County Office of Emergency Management has reported that the fire is an estimated 400 acres and 10% contained. Forward progression of the fire has slowed, but has not been stopped.
As of 8:50 p.m. there are seven bulldozers and over 20 fire trucks on the scene. Lower wind speeds and higher humidity after nightfall is helping decrease fire behavior, according to county officials.
The Smithville Recreation Center accepting evacuated residents and Mayfest Park accepting evacuated animals will stop taking walk-ins tonight at 10 p.m., according to a Facebook post from the BCOEM. The general information phone line will remain staffed overnight, and can be reached at 512-521-3001.
The following map provided by the Texas A&M Forest Service shows a rough outline of the fire, and is subject to change.
Update: Nov. 3, 6:40 p.m.
Bastrop County Animal Services officials have set up a temporary animal shelter at Mayfest Park, 25 American Legion Drive, Bastrop.
Accepted animals include:
- Dogs
- Cats
- Other small animals
- Livestock will be coordinated at the park by the Bastrop County AgriLife Extension Office.
Those with questions can call 512-549-5160.
Update: Nov. 3, 6:35 p.m.
The National Interagency Fire Center reported that the fire is now at 400 acres and 10% contained.
Original: Nov. 3, 5:27 p.m.
What you need to know
On Nov. 3, as of 5:25 p.m., three locations received evacuation orders, including:
- SH 71 at Alum Creek north to Gotier Trace Road
- Park Road 1C between Alum Creek and Cottletown
- Gotier Trace from Alum Creek to Old Antioch
Officials from the BCOEM said no specific routes are in place; however, residents in these areas should head south toward Highway 71.
BCOEM said the Smithville Recreation Center will open as an emergency shelter for those displaced at 6:30 p.m.
What's happening
The National Interagency Fire Center reported the fire at 1:46 p.m. to be 10 acres near the 100 block of Hudson Road in Smithville, just south of Park Road 1C. Evacuations began 4 minutes later.
BCOEM officials said the fire was quickly pushed northward by strong winds around 2:30 p.m., causing more evacuations to be ordered.
In the three hours that followed, the fire grew to over 250 acres and was 5% contained; however, officials noted that "the fire is still active and forward progression has not been stopped."
What else?
Bastrop County has been under a burn ban since Aug. 26 for all residents living within unincorporated areas of the county.
Residents living within unincorporated areas of the county are prohibited from any outdoor burning until the order is lifted.
Bastrop County Commissioners will reevaluation conditions at the next meeting on Nov. 12.
The county's Keetch-Byram Drought Index, or KBDI, climbed from 338 on Aug. 7 to 722 on Nov. 2, according to Water Data for Texas.
The KBDI scale ranges from 0-800, and the Texas A&M Forest Service website explains that any level above 400 indicates a high potential for wildfires with extreme intensity.
For reference, the KBDI on Sept. 4, 2011, the day the Bastrop County Complex Fire ignited, was 789.
Stay tuned
This is a developing story. Community Impact will continue to add more information as updates are reported.
