MAGNOLIA, Texas – Thousands of acres have been consumed and about 100 homes have been destroyed in a massive wildfire that started in the Magnolia area and burned through three counties, fire officials said Tuesday.
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Investigators said the fire began along F.M. 1486 near Sandra Dee in Montgomery County about 3 p.m. Monday and crossed into Grimes and Waller counties.
At least 5,000 acres have burned in Montgomery County and 3,000 acres have burned in Waller County, officials said. About 300 acres have burned in Grimes County.
Waller County officials said about 100 homes, many in the Remington Forest area, have been destroyed.
"It's difficult for our community. It's difficult for our fire departments that are out here," said Capt. Kevin Hoffart of the Magnolia Fire Department. "We always come out and try to do our best to make sure something like this doesn't happen, but with the drought and everything else, it's almost impossible."
John Baker's home was one of those that was lost. He said he and his wife of 53 years had five minutes to pack up and get out.
"Don't know what the next move is going to be," he said. "All our pictures and stuff is gone. Some stuff you can't replace."
About 4,000 Waller County residents have been evacuated. At 8 p.m. Tuesday, evacuated residents who live south of F.M. 1488 will be allowed to return home. All areas in Waller County east of F.M. 362 and North of F.M. 1488 will be closed.
"It's very difficult because we don't know if we've lost anything," Waller County resident Doug Hall said before being allowed back home. His home was not destroyed. "I'll let my kids sleep, but I'll be up all through the night just making sure that it ain't coming our way."
Three shelters were opened in Waller County:
- Waller County Fair Grounds, 22000 Fairground Road in Hempstead
- Knights of Columbus, 22892 Mack Washington Lane in Hempstead
- St. John's Lutheran Church, 1613 Key Street in Waller
"It's just a scary situation here, and a bad situation for everyone in the state of Texas," Waller County resident Mary Sue Aday said.
No homes have been burned in Grimes County, but two have been burned in Montgomery County.
Thousands of people in Montgomery County have been evacuated from their homes. Some of the subdivisions in the evacuation area include:
- Alford Estates
- Deer Haven
- High Chaperal
- Magnolia East
- Magnolia West
- Ranch Crest
- River Ranch Park
- Shady Brick Acres
- Toby's Village
- Week End Retreats
- Wisteria Farms
- Woodland Land Lakes
Firefighters said Ranch Crest and River Ranch Park are heavily damaged.
Evacuations ordered for residents who live just east of F.M. 1486 were lifted about 7:45 p.m. Tuesday. The area includes Shady Oaks Blvd, Shady Oaks, Shady Lane, Country Oaks, Weeren Road, NorthHall Drive, South Hall Drive, Doma and Sandy Hill Roads.
A Red Cross shelter was set up at Magnolia High School, 14350 F.M. 1488. About 200 families were gathered there Tuesday afternoon.
A shelter was also set up at First Baptist Church, 801 East Goliad, in Crockett.
In Grimes County, the Lake Holly Hills and Fox Fire subdivisions have been evacuated.
Many roads in the three counties have been closed.
F.M. 1774 and F.M. 1488 have been closed in the Magnolia area.
In Grimes County, F.M. 1774 at F.M. 362 has been closed.
In Waller County, road closures include:
- Clear Creek at Magnolia Road
- F.M. 1488 at F.M. 362
- F.M. 1488 at Joseph Road (at the Waller/Montgomery county line)
- Field Store Road at the Harris County line
- Kickapoo Road at the Harris County line
- Murrell Road at the Harris County line
- Reeds Prairie at F.M. 362
- Riley Road at F.M. 1774
The Magnolia Independent School District canceled all classes scheduled for Wednesday. All Waller ISD schools will be open on Wednesday.
Earl Webb said he drove around for five hours Monday night trying to get into the Ranch Crest subdivision.
"We couldn't make it. We tried to go in every which way we could. I don't know if my pets are alive or what," Webb said.
Webb has three dogs and three cats.
Tina Dulaney packed up her car, grabbed her dogs and got out. She went to the shelter at Magnolia High School.
"Pretty scared," she said. "You just don't know. The wind's not helping. I just have to wait and see."
Barbara Nicks lives in the Ranch Crest subdivision and spent Monday night at the shelter. She was still there Tuesday.
"I thought I would be at at work, my husband would be at school and this would not be a problem like this," she said.
Nicks said running from her home is now just a blur.
"When the guy came telling us to get out, we could see smoke billowing past the trees just 100 yards away from us," she said.
Trucker Dennis Burford said he was six hours away from home when his wife called to tell him about the evacuation.
"We keep our important papers in the fire safe box, and that's all I asked her to get," he said.
Greg Riley said he packed up his important papers, his family and pets. He also went to a shelter for the night.
"They acted like it was very crucial that we got out immediately," Riley said. "We grabbed a couple changes of clothes and things that we thought were absolutely essential and left."
Four firefighters were taken to a hospital for treatment of heat exhaustion. One injured his ankle.
A canteen for firefighters has been set up at the Texas Renaissance Festival grounds.
Montgomery County officials said donations for fire victims should be coordinated through the United Way at 281-292-4155, ext. 265.
The Federal Emergency Management agency has issued a grant to help in the firefighting effort.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Wildfire Precautions:
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, 80 percent of wildfires occur within two miles of residential neighborhoods and suburbs.
State officials said that when weather conditions make wildfires more likely, people should prepare by taking the following precautions:
- Keep firefighting tools handy, such as a ladder long enough to reach the roof, a shovel, a rake and buckets.
- Place connected garden hoses on all sides of the house for emergency use.
- Know all emergency exits from your house.
- Learn all routes leading out of your neighborhood.
As fires actually approach, take the following actions:
- Park your car facing the direction of escape.
- Shut off gas at the meter. Only a qualified professional can safely turn the gas back on.
- Turn off propane tanks.
- Place combustible patio furniture inside.
- Seal vents with pre-cut plywood or commercial seals.
- Wet down or remove shrubs within 15 feet of your residence.
- Place lawn sprinklers on roof and near above-ground fuel tanks. Wet down the roof.
- Close windows, vents, doors, blinds and non combustible window coverings. Remove flammable drapes and curtains.
- Close interior doors and windows to prevent drafts.