Texas Wildfires: Bastrop Fire Partly Contained (Video)

by NowPublic Staff | September 7, 2011 at 01:32 pm

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Bastrop Wildfire 30% Contained

The Bastrop wildfire, the worst in Texas history, is now 30% contained. Local residents would also describe it as "70% uncontained", but firefighters are doing their best with limited resources amid the worst drought in state history.

Winds have slowed down, which has made containment of the Bastrop fire easier. It's still no mean feat, though, to control a blaze that covers 45 square miles. You can see the latest eyewitness video footage below.

Governor Rick Perry has left the campaign trail to help with the firefighting effort. Meanwhile, Texas has sought federal help in battling the fires, and has been using equipment from other states.

The Republican-led Texas legislature reduced volunteer firefighter funding in Texas by 75%, and volunteers make up 4/5 of Texas' firefighters: Rick Perry will have to deal with this policy dichotomy sooner rather than later. This isn't necessarily a matter of Rick Perry being hypocritical: just reality intruding upon rhetoric.

Job #1, though, is for the state to get its arms around these fires.

The Bastrop wildfire has consumed nearly 45,000 acres so far, killing two people and destroying nearly 800 homes. It is one of 60 wildfires currently burning across Texas. The US Drought Monitor paints a dire portrait of Texas at the moment.