Bastrop is no stranger to wildfire. How does the current nearly 800-acre Rolling Pines fire compare?
The destructive threat of wildfire is nothing new to Bastrop.
The most destructive wildfire in Texas history occurred in Bastrop County, which is home to the Lost Pines, an isolated forest of loblolly pine trees that help make the area a desirable place to live, but also provides kindling for wildfires. In an effort to keep the threat of wildfire at bay, officials regularly burn smaller, prescribed fires.
'I know that sound': Rolling Pines Fire near Bastrop carries echoes of 2011 fire, evacuee says
How does the current, active Rolling Pines fire compare to those weathered by Bastrop County residents in the past?
2011 Bastrop County Complex fire
The 2011 Bastrop County Complex fire was not only the largest wildfire to affect the Bastrop area, but stands as Texas' largest and most destructive wildfire to date.
The wildfire ravaged more than 34,000 acres of land, destroyed an estimated 1,600 homes, killed two people and injured at least a dozen others. The American-Statesman reported that this fire destroyed 95% of Bastrop State Park. The fire took 36 days to fully extinguish and monetary losses surpassed $200 million.
A tree-trimming company was accused of causing the fire after trees fell on power lines during extreme drought conditions. Bastrop County and the company reached a $5 million settlement over the fire.
In the fire's aftermath, Bastrop County was awarded Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance, which it used, in part, to help rebuild lost homes.
The catastrophic event had a lasting impact on Bastrop County residents and changed the scope of what Texans (first responders and citizens alike) could expect during a wildfire disaster in the state. In reporting from 2016, then-Statesman reporter Mary Huber wrote, "Today, the event has become a marker for how people in Bastrop County talk about time: before and after the fire."
2015 Hidden Pines fire
In 2015, Bastrop County again experienced a large scale wildfire in the Hidden Pines fire, which burned through more than 4,500 acres and reportedly resulted in the loss of about 143,000 trees.
The Hidden Pines fire burned for nearly two weeks, and was later reported as having been started by a Bush Hog mower overheating or creating a spark that ignited dry grass at Luecke Farm.
The fire displaced more than 400 people and destroyed over 60 structures.
How does the current Rolling Pines fire compare?
As it is currently reported, the ongoing Rolling Pines fire is considerably smaller than either of these previous major fires.
The Rolling Pines fire, which was last reported as being 30% contained, has burned through 783 acres of land. No homes have yet been damaged in the fire and no injuries have been reported. As of a Wednesday afternoon press conference, there is no current threat of the fire spreading out of its current containment lines, but crews are working on ensuring that an incoming cold front and accompanying winds won't affect containment efforts.
So far, 250 families have been evacuated due to the Rolling Pines fire. The fire reportedly was a result of a prescribed burn that got out of control in dry and windy conditions.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: How does Bastrop Rolling Pines fire compare to 2011 County Complex?
