Everyone from Texas okay? We are fine here. I am in central Texas about 75 miles from the Bastrop fire which has claimed over 25,000 acres. My Uncle in Magnolia(Houston Area) has evacuated his mini horses and dogs about 2 miles ahead of another fire. We are praying for everyone including the awesome fire crews and the volunteers assisting.

I live in Magnolia, but not the part that got evacuated. My house is about 15 miles SE of where the fire was. DS didn't have school today because they were using the HS as an evacuation center.

I saw films of the Bastrop Fire on HWY. 71. Sad, sad. It was such a beautiful drive.

The fires have flared up again today. Over 1,000 homes lost and 10's of thousands of acres. My uncle is about 2 - 3 miles from a fire now. (Deb he is on Old Hockley Rd. in Magnolia.) Another friend around Hempstead is loading her cattle and the rest of her menagerie right now. I think this should be a wake up call to the rest of us to know where everything is and be able to grab pets, food, leashes, crates, etc in an emergency. Many of these people are being forced to turn livestock loose and leave them.

I sure hope you guys make out okay.

Having gone through a few fires out here in CA, my prayers are with y'all. I plan to move to Texas in a couple years and I hate the thought of all the fire damage. But there will be a good side to all this even though it doesn't seem like it right now.

God bless TEXAS and send some rain, AMEN

 Quote: Elaine Haynes

there will be a good side to all this even though it doesn't seem like it right now.

Really? What would that be after the conflageration of hundreds of homes, acres of land & so many people & animals suffering & all of them now homeless???

Please explain to me what that might be, as I believe that I must be missing something.

 Quote: Anne Jones

 Quote: Elaine Haynes

there will be a good side to all this even though it doesn't seem like it right now.

Really? What would that be after the conflageration of hundreds of homes, acres of land & so many people & animals suffering & all of them now homeless???

Please explain to me what that might be, as I believe that I must be missing something.

Anne, I was not denigrating the negatives at all. Those are devastating but once the fires are over and the land starts to recover (and it does recover)the ash from the burned trees and brush acts to actually give nutrients to the soil for the re-growth.

As I said, I've experienced wildfires and having to evacuate. I know what it's like. I've known people that lost their homes and I would never lessen what that means. But even after the worst disasters there is some good that comes, no matter how small it may seem.

I just found this collection of photos that shows just how bad things are. Very sad for the ranchers, farmers and home owners.
My thoughts are with them, during this trying time:

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2011/09/texas_drought_and_wildfires.html

If you need to move livestock here are a few ppl that might help.

_____________________________________________________________
If you hear of anyone needing to move livestock away from the fires, I have 144 acres fenced pasture with live water in San Jacinto County that they can use. Feel free to forward my info.

Thanks,
Andy Townend
Owner
... Dog Gone Hay Company
Quality, Fertilized Jiggs Square Bales
1235 Old Salem Church Road
Willis, TX 77378

(713) 202-8555 Cell



A Man named Matt Daniel has enough pasture for about sixty horses. So if anyone knows someone with horses displaced by the fires give him a call 832-769-1879.
He can move the horses, ten at a time. Also another man Ron Derrick from Lampassas has 2500 acres, 20 stall barn and several pastures. He said that if anyone needs a place to put animals, call him at 512-734-6080.


Would you mind helping us spread the word.... Northeast Texas Equine Services of Pittsburg Tx is waiving emergency fee for horses requiring medical treatment due to fire. Must call cell 903-855-3179. Dr Keith Taraba.