A massive grass fire north of Fredericksburg, Texas has expanded dramatically, prompting evacuations as it grew from a mere 400 acres to a staggering 8,640 acres without any signs of containment, fire departments from Gillespie County are scrambling to wrangle the blaze which ignited near the 8700 block of Lower Crabapple around 1 p.m. yesterday, according to FOX San Antonio.
Local residents have been urged to vacate their homes and the Red Cross alongside numerous volunteers have cropped up at shelters aiming to assist those hit by the disaster closing roads such as State Highway 16 North from the Fredericksburg city limits to Eckert Road and Lower Crabapple Road from Eckert Road into Fredericksburg, with the local fire department taking the lead supported by at least six volunteer fire departments and state agencies providing critical air support, as reported by News 4 San Antonio.
Sean Doerre, Fredericksburg's public information officer, indicated that numerous law enforcement agencies are engaged in assisting the evacuation process, yet he reassured the public that there is currently no concern about the flames encroaching closer to the city of Fredericksburg, in a statement obtained by FOX San Antonio.
A lifetime resident of Fredericksburg, preferring anonymity, echoed this sentiment in an interview with News 4 San Antonio, confidently stating, "It'll never make it to town. They'll get it out way before then."
Community support is evident as locals were seen providing sustenance for the firefighting teams with the drop-off of water and snacks at their stations, signifying a bond in the face of natural adversity Gillespie County Judge Daniel Jones went so far as to declare a state of disaster, urging the public to steer clear of the affected areas and for those displaced, Zion Lutheran Church at 426 W. Main St in Fredericksburg, has been designated as a shelter by the Red Cross.
