Wildfires

More than half of habitable land in Austin is now considered at risk of being damaged in a wildfire. That’s up from just under 40% nearly a decade ago.

The Smokehouse Creek fire tore through the Texas Panhandle early last year, burning over a million acres in just weeks. In the small town of Canadian, where the devastation was severe, residents say the heartbreak lingers and a full recovery could take years.

The National Weather Service says weather doesn't usually cause wildfires; it's dry and windy conditions that can cause a fire to quickly spread.

The Crabapple Fire has burned more than 9,700 acres north of Fredericksburg and is now 65% contained as of 11:13 a.m. Monday, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.

The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning from noon to 9 p.m. Friday due to a combination of strong winds, warm temperatures and low humidity in the forecast. Another warning is in effect for most of the day Saturday.

About two-thirds of land parcels in the city would be considered at risk of damage from wildfire, up from about 35% a decade ago. The changes would require builders to construct more homes with fireproof materials.

Residents were left to speculate about an "ongoing incident" nearby. At least two wildfires prompted evacuations.

In Austin, officials say power outages caused by severe winds could last into Wednesday.

The dry and windy conditions will be ripe for embers from a cigarette, a chain on the back of a truck or sparks from machinery to ignite on dry vegetation and be carried for over a mile.

Firefighters were sent from Austin, Hutto, Kyle, Round Rock and other cities. They're expected to stay for about 21 days.