Two huge range fires remained out of control on April 11, burning thousands of acres in far west Texas and northwest Texas. Together the fires have consumed more than 150,000 acres.
The Rock House Fire in far west Texas started near the town of Marfa on Saturday, April 9. The Texas Forest Service said the fire spread north through Fort Davis, destroying as many as 40 homes. The McDonald Observatory had been used as an evacuation center and it too had to be evacuated. The observatory has been without power since Saturday. Astronomers were able to close observatory’s domes to avoid smoke damage.
The fire had been moving toward the town of Balmorhea but an overnight cold front shifted the winds. Dr. Anita Cochran with the McDonald Observatory said the shifting winds have posed a renewed threat to the entire area.
McDonald Observatory contains three huge multi-million dollar telescopes. McDonald’s newest telescope, the Hobby-Eberly telescope, is one of the largest optical telescopes in the world and cost $30 million to construct.
At one point fire fighters said the Rock House fire had moved rapidly burning 12 miles of ranch land in two hours. No injuries have been reported in the fire which is reported to be only 10 percent contained.
The Swenson Fire in northwest Texas has spread to three Texas counties. Despite burning 71,000 acres, no homes have reportedly been damaged. The fire which has been burning since Wednesday, April 6, is said to be 50 percent contained.
Source: The Insurance Council of Texas
Topics Texas
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