Bastrop County residents experienced a close call this weekend after a fire erupted near Highway 95, prompting the evacuation of homes in the area. The blaze, referred to as the "Mouse Fire" by local authorities, was largely contained by late Saturday evening, allowing evacuated residents to safely return to their homes. According to KXAN, as of 8 p.m., the fire was 90 percent contained and spanned two acres.
Earlier in the day, measures to rapidly contain the fire included the dispatch of three Single Engine Air Tankers to put retardant around the perimeter, as reported by CBS Austin. The Bastrop County Office of Emergency Management had to ask individuals to avoid the area actively to ensure the responders could continue to safely operate. Despite the fire being confined to an area of approximately one acre with no growth observed since the initial response, the danger of embers sparking additional fires remained a concern for firefighters working on the scene.
The fire wreaked its havoc by destroying two structures on a single property, although, fortunately, no further evacuations were mandated. Firefighters, along with the aid of a bulldozer line circling the fire, combated smaller flare-ups caused by wandering embers. In a statement obtained by CBS Austin, the Bastrop County Office of Emergency Management emphasized that there were still active flames and spots coming from inside the perimeter even after establishing the bulldozer line.
The Bastrop County community, while shaken, has begun to settle back into normalcy as the threat subsides. Firefighters stayed on scene overnight into Sunday to ensure any remaining fires were thoroughly extinguished. "Unless you live on one of the properties impacted, please continue to avoid the area to allow first responders a safe operating area," the Office of Emergency Management advised in an update on social media, as noted by KXAN. Furthermore, the City of Bastrop confirmed that the city limits were not threatened by the fire, with the Bastrop Fire Department lending its support to the response efforts.
