UPDATE 9/12/11 at 11:20 a.m: Officials now say the fire is about 85-percent contained. A statement on the Texas Forest Service website says that fire activity was significantly lower today and that firefighters were expected to make more gains today.

"Firefighters will continue fireproofing around existing homes inside of the burned area to protect them from unburned fuels. The major issues of concern for firefighters are the potential for falling needles to re-burn over the fire line and embers falling from burning tree tops that could start new fires," the statement read.

Several evacuated residents are now being allowed to return to their homes. In Montgomery County FM 1488 was open westbound to Woodland Lakes. There is a checkpoint located there for residents of the Ranch Crest subdivision. Other newly opened areas include: Alford Estates, Magnolia West, Wisteria Farms, River Park Ranch, Ruel Road and Old Hockley Road south to Nichols Sawmill.

Officials say that the remaining areas closed in Montgomery County will hopefully open by noon today. Onlookers should stay away from the area, as firefighters are still on scene and only residents are being allowed back into the areas.

Waller County will also open up some evacuated areas to residents today. Residents living on and south of Joseph Road from Robinhood to FM 1488, Kickapoo to Joseph, Old Joseph to Macedonia, Lakeside Clear Creek, Reid's Prairie, Clark, West Brooks, Clear Creek Forest, Lakeside Estates, Ten Oaks, Pine Shadows and Club Lakeview.

West Magnolia Forest is now open to all areas west of Brooks and Newland, Riley and Newland and North Reid's Prairie at Saddle Creek Forest.

ORIGINAL STORY:

Less than three months after the massive 5,000 acre fire swept through Grimes County, another wildfire is currently making its way through Montgomery, Grimes and Waller Counties.

The blaze started at 3 p.m. on Labor Day in the Magnolia area, according to reports from the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management (MCEM). The exact location where the fire began has yet to be determined.

The fire began traveling southwest and threatened areas in Montgomery, Grimes and Waller Counties. Monday’s blaze grew to more than 1,600 acres.

Pictured is a flare up erupts and crosses FM 1488 near Oak Hollow, in Waller County, on Sept. 7.

In Montgomery County evacuations were ordered for a number of homes in River Park Ranch, Wisteria Farms, Ranch Crest, Magnolia West, Deer Haven, Woodland Lakes, Week End Retreats, Shady Brook Acres, River Park Ranch and Clear Creek Forest.

Firefighters attempted to hold the fire in the areas of FM 1488 and Joseph Road in Waller County and along the Montgomery and Waller County lines between FM 1774 and FM 1488.

Roads blocks were in place along FM 1488 at FM 1774 west of the Waller County line and FM 1774 west of FM 1486 in Grimes County.

On the evening of Sept. 5 the MCEM reported that fire departments had the head of the fire south of FM 1488 in Montgomery and Waller Counties contained. Other areas of the fire were still being battled to insure containment.

Each time firefighters started to get ahead of the fire and hold the containment lines, hot spots or flare ups would occur in different areas of the three counties. By Sept. 6 the fire had burned 7,800 acres

However, fires that erupted in the areas of FM 1774 and FM 1486 were quickly brought under control with the use of air assets and evacuations of the area were halted.

On Sept. 7 the Texas Forest Service believed that 85 percent of the fire was contained overall, in the three counties involved. But new flare ups in the area and hot spots caused the containment number to decrease.

The amount of acres burned quickly increased to 10,000 acres.

Texas Forest Service Public Information Officer Bonnie Strawser said the rapid rise to 10,000 acres burned overnight represented a 33 percent increase.

Firefighters were then able to bring the fire back under control, allowing residents to return to their homes in many areas.

Montgomery County lifted all evacuations except for the Ranch Crest subdivision until noon on Sept. 8.

Later that day, however, the fire started to rage once again. The number of acres burned increased to 12,500 acres with 60 percent containment, before firefighters were once again able to get a handle on it.

Magnolia Fire Chief Gary Vincent said the drought that south Texas is currently suffering from is the biggest factor when it comes to the fire.

“This is the worst drought in history,” he said. “We tried to warn people.”

Montgomery County Judge Alan Sadler, who is also the emergency management director, has signed and submitted to the state a disaster declaration. Waller County Judge Glenn Beckendorff did likewise. The declarations allowed the counties to qualify for state assistance, as well as FEMA fire grants.

The tri-county fire is receiving state assistance with air units, bulldozers and spotter planes. Strawser explained that the hardest part about controlling the fire is the lack of rain, the hot temperatures, low humidity and constant wind change.

Vincent echoed similar thoughts saying that because of the wind, embers are traveling and causing new flare ups and hot spots are flaring back up.

Waller County Deputy Sheriff  Joe Hester agreed.

“The fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters can only help for eight hours a day,” Hester said. “That’s why it keeps flaring up in the evening.”

On Sept. 8 overnight fires broke out in the Crown Ranch subdivision off FM 1486 and residents were forced to evacuate. Throughout the night crews held fire lines and brought it under relative control.  Evacuations remained in place for Crown Ranch and those areas evacuated on FM 1486 on Sept. 8.

Montgomery County had a chance to do some needed damage assessments and determined that the number of structures burned remained at four homes and 12 various barns and outbuildings in Montgomery County, one in Grimes County and more than 70 homes had burned in Waller County.

Of the approximate 12,500 acres burned by Thursday, Sept. 8, 3,500 acres were in Montgomery County and 7,800-plus acres had been scorched in Waller County alone. Texas Forest Service confirmed that there have been no fatalities in the tri-county area; however, four firefighters were taken to the hospital; three for heat exhaustion and one for an injured ankle.

As Sept. 9, some evacuations had been lifted in Montgomery County; however areas are still subject to flare ups and fires spreading with little to no notice, according to MCEM. 

Road closures include FM 1486 from FM 1774 north to Jackson Road and FM 1774 west to the Waller County line.  FM 1488 remains open to the Waller County line.

As of press time last week, the Texas Forest Service reported that 15,000-plus acres had burned and 60 percent of the fire was contained. However the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) reported that over 21,000 acres have burned by the morning of Sept. 9. Active fire behavior was observed Sept. 8 as the fire moved to the southwest in Waller County. Hester said that 70-plus homes have been destroyed in Waller County, although an exact number is not known.

“We can’t get in to do an accurate survey of the damages,” he said.

As of press time residents of Waller County east of CR 362 and north of the Waller/Harris county line, to the Montgomery and Grimes county lines, were under a mandatory evacuation. Residents were not being allowed back in under any circumstances.

State fire officials diverted a DC-10 airplane with about 11,000 gallons of fire retardant to the tri-county fire during the morning hours on Sept. 9.

Magnolia ISD schools have been closed all week. MISD released a statement explaining that the decision to close all schools for another day is in consideration not only of the families in the affected areas, but the employees from across the district who also live in the area of the fires and are unable at this time to return to work. MISD will continue
to assess the situation over the next three days and develop plans for re-opening
school next week.

Waller ISD also closed Evelyn Turlington Elementary School and Fields Store Elementary School Sept. 7 - 9 due to wildfires and road closures in the area. All other Waller ISD schools operated at a normal schedule.

The Red Cross established a shelter at Magnolia High School, but changed locations to the Wildwood United Methodist Church on FM 1488. Houston Field Services Manager Jessica Debalski said the church was housing nearly 90 residents each night. As of press time DPS estimated that 120 were housed in the Montgomery County shelter.

The Red Cross also has two shelters established in Waller County, which Debalski said had housed 40 each night. Shelters in Waller County include the fairgrounds, which are also accepting evacuees with pets.

Debalski said those who come to the Red Cross are given a place to sleep, shower, eat and Red Cross members also help them decide their next steps both long term and short term.

For Red Cross assistance or general inquiries call 1-866-526-8300.

United Way and the Society of Samaritans are also accepting and giving donations to those in need. For donation information, visit societyofsamartians.com or call the United Way at 281-292-4155 x 265.

The Texas Forest Service reported that 250 of the 254 counties in Texas were under a burn ban.

For current fire information, visit mctxoem.org or visit txforestservice.tamu.edu.

Links and information are also posted to the Tribune’s Facebook and Twitter accounts. Search for Tomball Magnolia Tribune.

Photo by Caleb Harris

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