After a tortuous week of wildfires and evacuations throughout Montgomery, Grimes and Waller counties, the 18,964 acre fire was officially declared contained on Sept. 15 at midnight by the Texas Forest Service.

The fire which began at 3 p.m. on Labor Day caused several evacuations in the tri-county area. In Montgomery County, firefighters had finally somewhat reached a level of containment which made them feel comfortable lifting some evacuations on Sept. 8.

However, as the fire would seem to begin becoming under control, firefighters were faced with constant flare ups Sept. 9 in the Crown Ranch subdivision.

“Crown Ranch (fire) quickly spread because of the wind,” said Magnolia Volunteer Fire Department (MVFD) Chief Gary Vincent.

This forced re-evacuations in areas of Yancey, Cloyd, Goodson north of FM 1488 and Old Hockley from FM 1488 to Nichols Sawmill.

Also there were evacuations in River Park Ranch and Ranch Crest, Abney south of FM 1488, Cedar Ridge, Crown Ranch, Dunlevy, FM 1486 to FM 1774, FM 1774 to Jackson Rd, FM 1774 west to Waller County, Goodson north of FM 1488, Grapevine, Magnolia Downs, Magnolia West subdivision, Old Hempstead north of FM 1488, Shady Oaks, Thomas and Wisteria Farms.

The fire even encroached on the city limits of Magnolia closing the intersection of FM 1774 and FM 1488.

Containment numbers frequently changed as wind, low humidity, temperatures and lack of rain affected the area, according to the Texas Forest Service.

The fire was ranked the third worst wildfire in the U.S., according to Vincent.

Throughout all of the evacuations and scare for its community, Magnolia and the surrounding area pulled through.

At a town meeting held at Unity Park on Sept. 12 members of the Texas Forest Service, the California Incident Management Team, Vincent and Mayor Todd Kana updated residents on the wildfire situation.

Vincent said it was a blessing that the tri-county fire received such a large state intervention.

He also stated that he was very proud of the response from not only firefighters, but from residents in the Magnolia area.

“I’m very proud of the total effort of emergency workers, elected officials and the community for their help and support of our efforts to help protect this community,” Vincent said.

Kana echoed the same thoughts saying he knew the fire did not directly affect the city limits, but the community stuck together with great support.

“I understand the outreach of our community,” he said. “I’m not surprised how the community came together, but it is definitely reassuring.”

Throughout Magnolia, organizations such as the Society of Samaritans (SOS), Living Waters Assembly of God, The Magnolia Apostolic Tabernacle, The American Red Cross and the Texas Disaster Relief Southern Baptist Convention each established areas for evacuees to receive donations or a place to eat and sleep.

The community’s support was overwhelming, as some of the organizations and churches had to begin turning away donations.

SOS received an entire truck full of water and food. Mattress Mac donated 48 mattresses to SOS for victims who lost everything in their homes.

The radio station 93Q donated several pallets of water to the SOS organization. PODS were also donated to SOS to store the mass amounts of donations that were received. SOS acting director Mildred Ashworth said the organization had over 200 volunteers.

Of the volunteers at SOS, included were Ben Lyon, Christian Lyon and Nathan Lyon who, along with their parents and seven other siblings, lost their entire home in the Grimes County fire in June.

The brothers said SOS had helped them during their time of need and they wanted to be here for the victims of the tri-county fire.

SOS Special Projects Coordinator Lynette Gibbons and Magnolia Apostolic Tabernacle member Shelly Pope were two volunteers at each of their corresponding organizations that were also evacuees continuing to help others in need.

The Magnolia Lions Club helped victims of the fire by providing $50 gift cards to Wal-Mart to each member of families in need of clothes, food and medications.

Jake Stovall, of Craftmasters is currently working with SOS to search for a family who the company would be able to rebuild a home for.

Charles J. “Chuck” Kersten III, a licensed insurance adjuster in eight states including Texas, has over 20 years experience in catastrophe insurance claims from floods to hurricanes to fires. As a Magnolia resident he wants to donate his time to the fire victims by helping them better understand their insurance policy. Contact him at 713-397-3838 or visit chuckkersten.com.

Aside from the overall community response to the fire victims, many members of Magnolia have expressed their sincere gratitude to the firefighters and responders of the massive wildfire.

Vincent said more than 20 fire departments responded along with the Texas Forest Service and California Incident Management Team.

California Incident Management Team Fire Behavior Analyst Tom Leuschen said he was overwhelmed with how well his team had been welcomed and treated in the community.

MVFD had to begin telling residents they could no longer accept donations because they had already received such an overwhelming response.

According to the Texas Forest Service, 60 homes were destroyed in the tri-county fire. The Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management said it appeared 8 of those homes were in Montgomery County.

Vincent added that not one life was lost in the entire tri-county fire.

However, he said the bad news was that the crisis is not over. East Texas has been in a drought since last October. Vincent explained that the fuel is still on the ground.

Residents must use caution, he explained. Leuschen said east Texas still has a 21-inch rain deficit.

Texas Forest Service will continue to work the established lines, mop up the burned areas and watch for any possible flare ups.

Texas Forest Service Public Information Officer Justice Jones said all it takes is one spark.

For more information on how to prepare for a wildfire, visit txforestservice.tamu.edu and follow the link, “Ready, Set, Go!”

Photo by Cheryl Smith

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