A fire kindled by an arcing power transformer near Reimers Ranch Sunday rekindled this afternoon.
Asst. Chief John Durham with Lake Travis Fire & Rescue says no structures have been threatened by the 60-acre blaze. Some horses had to be moved out of the fire's path, but no injuries have been reported.
Crews from eight or nine Travis and Hays County fire district plus Austin's Fire Department had the fire about 40 percent contained as of 6:00 p.m. Monday. The firefighters have been getting help from two STARFlight helicopters making water drops. Efforts will continue well into the night to fully contain the fire and guard against any hot spots or sparks that jump the fire lines.
This fire come almost two months after a 100-acre fire that crept into an Oak Hill neighborhood, destroying several homes. Durham fears the two blazes could be a preview of coming attractions.
"These are exceptional drought conditions we're in," Durham told KUT News. "The vegetation is very dry and stressed to the point like we have not seen it in quite some time. And so there are many different types of ignition sources that will start this dry tinder vegetation that wouldn't normally start it on fire quite so easily, like cigarettes and arcing from power lines, and we're afraid in the coming days that fireworks may be a significant issue for us, but we're certainly hoping not."
The heat didn't help, either. High temperatures at both Camp Mabry and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport set new records at 103 degrees.
