Firefighter injured in 9,700+ acre wildfire near Fredericksburg; fire is 85% contained

GILLESPIE COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — The Crabapple Fire near Fredericksburg in Gillespie County prompted evacuations as it grew to more than 9,700 acres by Monday, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service (TFS).

In a Monday evening update just after 8:00 p.m., TFS said the affected area was 9,737 acres and was now 85% contained. Earlier Monday morning in a 10 a.m. update, the fire had been 65% contained.

“Crews rose to the challenge of today and kept any flare-ups under control,” Fredericksburg Fire Chief Lynn Bizzell said in a news release from the city. “We are encouraged by the level of containment, but with the weather conditions things can change quickly.”

TFT and the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) released damage assessments from the Crabapple Fire:

• 9 total residences destroyed
  • 7 possibly occupied & 2 confirmed unoccupied
• 2 residences damaged
• 20 outbuildings destroyed
• 4 outbuildings damaged

“These damage assessment numbers, unfortunately, confirm what our crews were seeing on the ground,” Bizzell added. “You hate to lose any structure, and our thoughts are with those that lost property. Structures were our priority from the start of the fire and without the efforts of our crews the numbers could have been much higher, but unfortunately, we could not save everything.”

Officials said that those who had been evacuated previously now may return as conditions allow.

One firefighter was injured late Sunday while working the fire after a tree limb fell, according to the city. The firefighter was taken to the hospital to be treated and was released.

By 7:30 a.m. Monday, all roads that were closed were reopened.

“As crews continue to work, everyone is asked to avoid the area unless it is necessary. People traveling through the area should listen to crews on the ground about access. People that have evacuated their home should not return yet,” the city said in the release.

The city said a Red Flag Warning was in effect Monday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. South winds were expected from 10-20 mph, gusts up to 35 mph and low humidity between 10-20%.

The wildfire risk for Monday is Very High to Extreme, according to KXAN’s First Warning Weather Team. The worst of the risk will be in the Hill Country counties.

How the fire expanded Sunday

According to TFS, aircraft and ground crews made good progress on Sunday.

“The containment line has been established around the majority of the fire and crews are working to finish wrapping the perimeter. Containment lines were reinforced throughout the day through air support and ground crews,” TFS said in the press release.

No injuries have been reported by officials, but several structures have been destroyed, according to a Sunday 11 a.m. press release. Officials also said they do not have an estimate yet of how many people were displaced by the fire.

“Crews worked throughout the night battling active fires and flare ups,” Bizzell said in the release. “They have held the progress of the fire at FM 1631. This morning, TDEM and Texas A&M Forest Service aircraft are supporting efforts on the ground as we continue to work on containment and protect structures.”

Increasing wind speeds Sunday could again impede firefighters’ efforts to contain the wildfire, as they did on Saturday.

“As crews continue to work, everyone is asked to avoid the area,” the press release reads, “People in the area should listen to crews on the ground about evacuations. Anyone who has been evacuated should not return at this time.”

A no-drone zone has been established over the area, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. It extends in a five-mile radius around the fire.

According to TFS, Crabapple was one of 11 new wildfires in Texas that started Saturday. Those fires have already burned more than 9,100 acres.

Displaced residents shelter at church

Evacuations of residents in the fire’s path began Saturday afternoon, according to a Fredericksburg Fire EMS Facebook post. Officials told KXAN that at least 500 people were displaced.

County officials originally directed displaced residents to the Zion Lutheran Church at 426 West Main Street, Fredericksburg, where the American Red Cross’s Hill Country chapter had an aid station and overnight shelter.

The shelter at the church closed Monday as of 4 p.m. However, it could reopen, if necessary.

Zion Lutheran Pastor Jonathan Mollenkopf told KXAN Saturday night that he first heard the sirens while working with others in the church’s garden.

“We were outside working in the garden, and we started hearing sirens, and then we got calls and texts,” he said. “It’s been really emotional hearing people trying to get out of the path of the fire. And all the prayers we’re offering were emotional, but happy to help in any way we can.”

Seven people, a mother with four children aged 8-15 and two French tourists, stayed at the shelter overnight.

“At lunch time [Saturday] we heard about the fire and that all the roads were closed and that we couldn’t go back to our cabins because it was very close to the fire,” said Marie Dominique Defondaumiere, one of the tourists. “And then we heard about the shelter because we had confirmation that we couldn’t go back to the cabins. So, we found the shelter and we had no place to go. And we found a very, very nice welcome for the people from the Red Cross and the pastor.”    

Officials said that no donations of food or water are needed as of 11 a.m. Sunday.

“People have just been very generous,” said Debbie Zabica, executive director of the Red Cross’ Hill Country chapter. “We’ve had several people stop by here and want to volunteer to see if they can help.”

As for the vacationing friends, they hope to return to rental homes – and suitcases – “not up in ashes.”

“Maybe we will have been trapped, it would have been much worse,” said Defondaumiere. “So, in a way we are not so unlucky. But it’s just material things. Being able to be sheltered and taken care of is very valuable here so we are very grateful.”  

How the fire expanded Saturday

The Crabapple Fire began around 1 p.m. Saturday near 8700 Lower Crabapple Road, according to TFS, which initially estimated the fire at 400 acres.

The wildfire grew rapidly, moving east across Highway 16 North before 5 p.m. Saturday, according to a press release. High winds and “prime wildfire conditions” contributed to the fire’s rapid development.

In the 5 p.m. release, Bizzell said firefighters were working to “stop the forward progress” of the fire and prevent the loss of structures.

“At this point, there is no containment,” Bizzell said. “Our crews are also working behind the fire to make sure embers do not cause more fires. Currently embers are flying up to a half of a mile and causing more fires in the area. Our resources are working to protect structures.”

KXAN staff saw ash falling in downtown Austin Saturday afternoon. The Austin Fire Department said its dispatchers received calls about smoke in the Austin area, and attributed it to the wildfire.

The wildfire reached 8,640 acres by 6 p.m., according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.

Gillespie County Judge Daniel Jones issued a disaster declaration Saturday night.

“Thankfully, the wind has subsided in the Texas Hill Country and our crews are working to stop the forward progress of the Crabapple Fire,” said Bizzell in a 10 p.m. update. “Our team will continue work throughout the night, including monitoring FM1631 to make sure the fire doesn’t progress.”

KXAN video journalists Aidan Boyd and Jordan Belt contributed to this coverage.