Texas wildfires
 

I can smell and see smoke from the fire, which is about 40 miles northeast of me. Scares me.

Fires are so scary. I hope no one got hurt with those fires. :(

Keep on a lookout and check the news every minute.

Sandy...you stay safe girl!!! I'm afraid for you and Gayle and Betsi

I'm fine, the fires are about 30 miles away from me. There are some smaller fires that are closer but far enough away to not cause me any problems. Right now there are no fires north of me so I can't even smell any smoke, I can see smoke plumes but can't actually smell it. We will be in danger until the winds die down but for now we are safe.

One of my techs called me that her kids schools are closed tomorrow. She's just a few miles from the Magnolia fire and is freaking out because her hubby is out of town.

I'm fine, too. Fires are also about 30 miles from us, but we still have smoke. The winds aren't as high today, so the fires are better contained. Gayle, Dripping Springs is having big fires. That is the closest town to our friends Ranch.

Stay safe Sandy. Everything is so crunchy dry, and pine is so easily burned.

Thank heavens the winds aren't as strong today. They can spread a fire in no time!! I hope the fire fighters stay safe and get the fires under control. I sure wish that you guys would have gotten some of the rain from the tropical depression that passed by. There's still hope for another!!!

No rain for us Diana! Just days of wind that are making the fires spread so quickly.

I have a friend who has been evacuated twice from the Magnolia fires. We have two faculty evacuated from the Bastrop fire, but as far as I know, their homes are still standing.

Betsi I was thinking about your friends ranch when I heard about the dripping springs fire. We need a good rain so badly!

Their 45 min away from me so I'm safe but I have many friends living in that area. I hope they calm down already.

Glad to hear everyone in here is safe also.

I have a brushfire going at the back of the subdivision where my apartment is in the front. I couldn't get home until almost 7, and they think it will be contained tonight. It's so scary. Is this the end?

Makes it hard to go to sleep, doesn't it Sandy? It's just awful, and so very scary. Be safe everybody!

I haven't had the news on for a day or two...are things getting any better? I worry for you all...not just the fires but breathing in that smoke everyday.

The winds have finally died down some so they are making progress on getting some of the smaller fires under control. The big one, that has burned over 30,000 acres and 800 homes, is only 30% contained and it will take a long time to get it completely stopped.

The bad news (other than the above) is that with less wind, the smoke is hovering everywhere. The air quality is now really really bad in Austin and the surrounding areas. Everything is hazy and you can smell smoke much of the time.

At least the temperatures are cooler now. We are in the low 90's with 60's-low 70's at night. It makes everything more bearable.

How is this affecting Gary?

My car and clothes smell like smoke. Praying for this to pass.

I sure hope you get some rain. I'm praying.

We've been getting rain and drizzle and I keep trying to push it your way but it's not working. :(

Thanks for trying Janet! We need heavy rain for days and days. Surely it will rain one of these days. Everybody is hoping for a hurricane to hit the coast in an unpopulated area.. Terrible to hope for, but we're getting desperate:o

Haven't heard much on the news about the fires, are they dying out yet?

They are popping up around here every day. It's really disturbing. You wouldn't believe how dry it is here!

There's a big one in west Houston, in George h bush park, this evening.

I saw pictures of that fire, Sandy. Big smoke and very scary looking.

Betsi, I know what you mean - it is so dry - I've never seen it this dry, ever. We have a 10-20% chance of rain the next few days, I sure hope we get some. Just a little bit would help.

There was a lot of fires throughout the state today. So scary.

I have a little 3' x 3' patch of pretty green grass in my front yard ... Unfortunately it's by the water meter, meaning I probably have a leak.

Yep Sandy, you do have a little leak there, that's the only way grass would be green right now! Everything else that hasn't been watered is so terribly dry. I'm afraid some of the St. Augustine grass that hasn't been watered won't come back (if it ever rains again). They have been talking about that here in Austin. St. Augustine that hasn't been watered may have to be replaced. Not that replacing it would be a bad thing, it wouldn't be bad because it is a very thirsty grass and it would be better to have something that required less water, for sure. But the expense of replacing it is what will really hurt (I'm talking all over town). I've kept mine alive this summer with lots of water, but I hate wasting water on the lawn.

I just saw on the news that your dry spell my last through winter. I sincerely hope not.

Also saw a heartwarming story of schools football team playing even though their town (starts with a B I think) was devastated by the fires. The stands were packed to support their team.....and they won!!

That was Bastrop and many of the football players lost their homes. I also read where 10 of the volleyball team members had lost their homes (and they played this week too). I just can't imagine how hard that must be.

I don't blame you for wanting the hurricane to hit Texas! How terrible that the fires keep burning. I am praying for rain and an end to this!

You have fires, and we had floods. So much damage from both, and so many homeless people. It is kind of spooky!

I hope the prediciton was wrong and your drought ends before a year is up. That is so hard on the farmers and ranchers. I can really sympathize with them. It's too bad about your yard but your income isn't based on your yard growing or not. I know that I complain about my yard too but in the bigger scheme of things it's really not important. I'm not getting on to anyone.....just pointing that fact out.

I know that a hurricane really isn't what you want either because it brings it's own set of problems. A nice, lingering rain would be a great start!!!!!

I pray that the fires stay away from all of you. It would be a real tragedy to lose your home and belongings.