Out-of-control Wildfires Continue to Ravage Texas
Two people have died in the massive Bastrop wildfire burning out of control about 30 miles (48 kilometers) southeast of Austin, the Texas capital. More than 700 homes have been destroyed in what is currently the largest of dozens of wildfires burning throughout the drought-stricken state. On September 4, a fire in east Texas killed a 20-year-old woman and her 18-month-old daughter trapped in their burning home.
At least 57 separate wildfires in Texas have burned across more than 100,000 acres (40,470 hectares) over the past week, Texas Governor Rick Perry announced at a September 6 news conference. According to the Texas Forest Service, one of the fires, the Bastrop fire, has burned across an estimated 30,000 acres (12, 140 hectares) in Bastrop County, forcing thousands of people to evacuate. A separate, smaller wildfire south of Austin has moved unchecked for at least 16 miles (25 kilometers) and has twice jumped the Colorado River.
Additional World Book article:
- When the Rain Stops (special report)
