Joanne Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 My oldest (living with his Dad) is closest. He's in the Woodlands/Conroe/Magnolia area. I worry because he's asthmatic. We see and smell the smoke and haze @ the school where I teach (Katy). I don't personally know anyone with lost property, but I know several who do. Isn't there a board member/former board member with a homeschool business in that area? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy in TX Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 (edited) I'm just south of Tomball, and yesterday we could see a giant cloud of smoke to our northwest, which would be Magnolia. Our air smelled clear. Dd16 takes classes at LSC-Tomball (farther up 249), and it was the same there (seeing the smoke in the distance, but no smell). One person in her class yesterday said that his house had already burned down (!), and another said the fire was currently 300 yards from his house. These were people who live in Magnolia. Today, the giant smoke cloud is not visible, but the air in general is a little hazy, and there is a very faint smoke smell in the air. There used to be a homeschooling store in Tomball, but it closed a couple of years ago. Don't know if that's the business you're thinking of? ETA: The smoke I saw was very much to the west, ie, not toward Woodlands/Conroe, I don't think. Edited September 9, 2011 by Amy in TX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 Not close at all, although there were apparently a couple of very small fires in the area. Yesterday there was haze, and we could smell smoke; I didn't notice it today. How about you? I thought I heard there was a fire near your town? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbsweetpea Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 (edited) We are in Round Rock and about 35 miles from the Bastrop Complex fires. We also were 15 miles from Steiner Ranch and close to the Leander fires. I have asthma and the last two days have been rough for me. Smoke is my trigger so this is not good. Also I am allergic to Ragweed and that is starting to spike right now. My dad used to live in Bastrop and the land he owned is gone. I know several families that have loss everything. My husbands uncle and aunt loss their home that they built from the ground up. There are also 8 homeschool families that I know of that have loss everything. The homeschool community here is starting to work on getting school supplies, books and curriculum together for them. This is something the community as a whole will not think of helping with. As of today 1386 homes are gone in Bastrop County. It is heartbreaking. My mother has a childhood friend that lost her daughter and granddaughter on Sunday to the fires near Amarillo. Her 20 year old daughter and 18 month old granddaughter did not escape their home when a fire went through their mobile home park pretty quickly. My mothers friend is handling it better than I think I would. Edited September 9, 2011 by bbsweetpea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lacie Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 We had a small fire down the street from us today, but it was put out quickly. We are close to the fires west of Fort Worth (Wise County area) from a couple weeks ago. My mom lives near Bastrop, but not in the path of the fire. I have heard it is horrible down there. My uncle lost part of their house (conflicting information, was told the whole house and not part of it...) in Hutto. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
higginszoo Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 About 10 miles from the Steiner Ranch fire, 5 from the Leander fire, maybe 40-45 from the Bastrop fire. There was an apartment fire at the end of our street the other night that destroyed 8-12 units ... contained before it became a wildfire, but it was pretty close to home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pamela H in Texas Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 I'm about an hour from a couple, but they don't seem too bad. The closest, from what I can tell, has only been 4 days and a few hundred acres. It's partially contained. All the fires that have broken out in my county have gotten contained though we were on the national map several days ago. My sil's aunt lost her home and most of her family has had to evacuate (Magnolia fires). Stinks. My mom said she could smell smoke this morning, thought maybe the wind shifted for a time this morning? She's on the other side of the metropolitan area. Some rain sure would be nice. We got two very short showers awhile back, but....we need some real rain... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mandymom Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 (edited) Isn't there a board member/former board member with a homeschool business in that area? I don't know if he was/is a board member, but the man who writes the D.I.V.E math and science curriculum (Dr. David Shormann) has an address in Magnolia. My inlaws live just north of Tomball. We had 20+ acre grass fire yesterday coming very close to my neighborhood (but still pretty far from my house) in the Humble/Atascocita area. Thankfully it was contained after about 7-8 hours and no structures burned and no evacuations were ordered (although they were close). Edited September 9, 2011 by mandymom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amy g. Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 We are 3 miles from a big fire in Waller county. We have been evacuated once, and may leave again tonight. I wanted to share this story about some of our dear goat farming friends who took in over 100 refugee goats, and a family of 14 while their own farm was right in the path of the fire. http://houston.eater.com/archives/2011/09/08/blue-heron-farms-fundraising-efforts-chris-shepherd-calls-houston-food-community-to-act.php Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simka2 Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 We are 3 miles from a big fire in Waller county. We have been evacuated once, and may leave again tonight. I wanted to share this story about some of our dear goat farming friends who took in over 100 refugee goats, and a family of 14 while their own farm was right in the path of the fire. http://houston.eater.com/archives/2011/09/08/blue-heron-farms-fundraising-efforts-chris-shepherd-calls-houston-food-community-to-act.php I was thinking of you today and wondering how you were doing. Thank you for the update! We are in the Katy area. Alot of smoke from the fires up north, but nothing to bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debbi in Texas Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 We are about 20 miles from the Cass County fire. The firefighters have it mostly under control-I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harriet Vane Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 My sister was evacuated near Bastrop. Her house is fine but several of her neighbors' houses were not. She hasn't been allowed back in yet, but has been told to expect smoke damage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fhjmom Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 I am up in the Dallas/Fort Worth area so not close to the fires. I have been praying daily for those involved. I cannot imagine the amount of damage they are reporting - almost 1,400 homes lost in the Bastrop Complex alone, and 250+ more across the state since Sunday.:crying: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simka2 Posted September 10, 2011 Share Posted September 10, 2011 Anyone heard from Amy G? I think some of the fires are inching closer to her. :confused: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iluvmy4blessings Posted September 10, 2011 Share Posted September 10, 2011 I live in San Antonio area and about 10 miles from my house we had some bad fires. I feel horrible for the people that lost their homes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
i.love.lucy Posted September 10, 2011 Share Posted September 10, 2011 Our power went out on Monday night and we were packed and poised for evac but it didn't happen. Our bag is still packed by the front door. My son's asthma has been pretty bad as the air quality is so poor. His nebulizer is in over-drive. Dear God, please send rain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngieW in Texas Posted September 10, 2011 Share Posted September 10, 2011 We made sure to be ready to evacuate in case we needed to on Monday. There was a major fire just a few miles north of us that spread very quickly from 20 acres to 100 acres. There were major winds coming from the north, so it was spreading in our direction. Fortunately, the winds died down and the firefighters were able to keep it contained. They didn't have it out until the next day. Fires popped up all over the place during the past week. There were warnings about driving over grass, grilling, and even about mowing (apparently one fire started with a spark from a mower). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeneralMom Posted September 10, 2011 Share Posted September 10, 2011 We're about 4 or 5 miles from the brush fire that started yesterday in West Bexar county. It is miserable to breathe today and I am worried about DS6's asthma. Supposedly it is 20% contained, but I still have a little evacuation kit prepped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amy g. Posted September 10, 2011 Share Posted September 10, 2011 I left last night, but came back today to check on everything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
i.love.lucy Posted September 10, 2011 Share Posted September 10, 2011 All okay? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maeintx Posted September 16, 2011 Share Posted September 16, 2011 I mostly lurk here but we were part of the Magnolia Fire. We were evacuated twice- 3 days the first time, came home, saw the damage, and then 2 days the second time. Thankfully our home was spared as was all in our subdivision but one. Our fences are burned and yards, 2 neighbors sheds. Our big pines burned at the bases. Our park play structure literally melted. It was surreal. Tomorrow our house is getting carpets cleaned and a/c ducts cleaned. We're just so thankful for the firefighters, many volunteers, who saved our homes. We can see where their truck pulled up onto our front yard and see their sooty footprints all over our drive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaillardia Posted September 16, 2011 Share Posted September 16, 2011 Small roadside fires are a little too common here, they're extinguished quickly, I'm grateful to say. We had a smokey wind blowing in in the late spring when the PK Lake fires had started and I couldn't even go outside. As dry as it is, we've had nothing major, nw of Ft. Worth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simka2 Posted September 16, 2011 Share Posted September 16, 2011 I mostly lurk here but we were part of the Magnolia Fire. We were evacuated twice- 3 days the first time, came home, saw the damage, and then 2 days the second time. Thankfully our home was spared as was all in our subdivision but one. Our fences are burned and yards, 2 neighbors sheds. Our big pines burned at the bases. Our park play structure literally melted. It was surreal. Tomorrow our house is getting carpets cleaned and a/c ducts cleaned. We're just so thankful for the firefighters, many volunteers, who saved our homes. We can see where their truck pulled up onto our front yard and see their sooty footprints all over our drive. I am so glad to hear you are okay!!!! :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted September 16, 2011 Share Posted September 16, 2011 I mostly lurk here but we were part of the Magnolia Fire. We were evacuated twice- 3 days the first time, came home, saw the damage, and then 2 days the second time. Thankfully our home was spared as was all in our subdivision but one. Our fences are burned and yards, 2 neighbors sheds. Our big pines burned at the bases. Our park play structure literally melted. It was surreal. Tomorrow our house is getting carpets cleaned and a/c ducts cleaned. We're just so thankful for the firefighters, many volunteers, who saved our homes. We can see where their truck pulled up onto our front yard and see their sooty footprints all over our drive. I can't begin to imagine. I'm glad you are okay!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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