Wildfire rages around Bastrop

In Bastrop, teams of local and state firefighters began to gain control of a wildfire after the flames burned unchecked for three days.

Despite the positive news, officials remain cautiously optimistic, citing the severe drought conditions and weather forecast. Yet firefighters and organizations like the U.S. Forest Service continue to aid locals. Persevering through exhaustion and ignoring personal concerns, teams continue to address the wildfire and its aftermath as the Chronicle goes to press. Some firefighters try to stifle the blaze; others search for victims while a few remain in Bastrop, providing updated damage maps to the evacuees.

The Texas Forest Service reports that the wildfire is 30 percent contained, two people have died, 1,386 homes and 34,068 acres have been destroyed. The fire's aftermath includes not only smoke, which winds carried into Austin and as far as Houston, but also hundreds of charred homes and numerous acres of blackened fields.

Officials and media sources agree that this wildfire is one of the worst on record in Texas, even amidst this especially active season.

Many residents evacuated into Bastrop city limits and most were still there at press time, waiting to find out whether or not their homes survived. Locals complain that there aren't enough details to tell them if individual houses stand or not.  

In light of the devastation caused by the Bastrop wildfire, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst told The Associated Press that he plans to sign an appeal requesting more federal aid. The document also requests that Bastrop be declared a disaster area.

While wildfires continue to ravage rural areas of Texas, Dallas remains relatively unscathed. Some officials worry that the smoke from the Bastrop fire will impact people with asthma or similar conditions.

Alex Stadthagen, AAS, LP, NREMT-P, FF and EMS Program Director at Brookhaven College said, "They [the health concerns] are greatly exaggerated. However, some asthma/COPD patients might be sensitive to the increased pollutants in the air (as well as any other pollutant)." While he assures students that Dallas will not feel the effects of the Bastrop fire, Stadthagen reminds people to be extra careful, since the drought conditions are still present.