What We Know: Bastrop County’s Hidden Pines Fire

KTSW News Department

Governor Greg Abbott declared a State of Emergency for Bastrop Thursday morning, following the Hidden Pines fire. The declaration authorizes the mobilization of state resources to assist displaced families.

The Hidden Pines fire began Tuesday morning and, as of Thursday afternoon, has more than quadrupled in size.

The Hidden Pines fire has destroyed nine homes, leaving 150 homes at risk. The fire has burned approximately 4,380 acres and is considered 15 percent contained. You can keep up with the Hidden Pines fire through the Texas A&M Forest Service Dispatch Tracker.

According to the Bastrop County Office of Emergency Management, Texas has applied for and received Federal help in the form of a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG). The same grant was also provided to Texas during the 2011 Bastrop fires and will recoup 75 percent of funds used in fire suppression. Incident Management Teams expect help from Florida and Georgia to arrive Friday.

Robert Tamble, Smithville City Manager, is asking that donations go to people whose homes have been destroyed or affected because evacuees are already being supplied with food and water. Suggestions may also go to the Bastrop County Long Term Recovery program, which was created after the 2011 Bastrop fires.

The Smithville Area Chamber of Commerce is supplying toiletry bags for firefighters. They are asking for the following items:

• soap
• wet wipes
• toothbrushes and toothpaste
• body wash

Donations can be taken to 100 North West 1st St. in Smithville.

Bastrop County has also established an animal evacuation site and a livestock supply point. Both livestock sites are in need of the following items:

• livestock feed
• water trough
• feed buckets
• bales of hay

Donations can be taken to the Bastrop Livestock Show Barn located at Loop 150 and Legion Drive in Bastrop.

Some reminders:

*Evacuees cannot bring pets/animals to the Evacuation Center.
*The Austin Disaster Relief Network (ADRN) plans to assist displaced Bastrop families with counsel and support. The number for the public hotline is (512) 806-0800.
*The State Bar of Texas has set up a legal hotline for victims to receive any legal help. The number for the hotline is (800) 504-7030.
*Volunteers can check in at Smithville City Hall, 317 Main St.
*You can register your phone for emergency alerts at Code Red.

A National Weather Service Announcement says Bastrop, Hays, Williamson, Blanco, Travis and Caldwell counties should expect dry conditions favorable for the spreading of fires through the weekend.