AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Fire crews across Central Texas are continuing to battle multiple wildfires as extreme heat and extreme drought conditions combine for a dangerous fire situation.
In eastern Travis County, Austin Fire and county crews spent much of Tuesday afternoon and evening battling a re-ignition of the Blue Bluff Fire near FM 973 and FM 969. Tuesday night, AFD said the blaze was 80% contained, in roughly the same location where a fire broke out last Friday. Between the two blazes, AFD says about 100 acres have burned.
Along the Blanco-Hays County line, crews are battling another wildfire that has burned 800 acres and was about 30% contained as of Wednesday morning. Blanco County officials say the blaze, called the Smoke Rider fire by the Texas A&M Forest Service, is burning near FM 165 and Los Colinas, and prompted the evacuation of about 30 structures Tuesday afternoon.
The Big Sky Fire is burning in Gillespie County, north of Fredericksburg. It has swarmed more than 1400 acres, and was 25% contained as of early Wednesday morning. Officials say wind, terrain, and juniper and oak trees are all contributing to the blaze; fire crews are working to protect structures and suppress the fire while dozers are working to cut fire lines.
Across the state, TAMFS officials said its crews were assisting with 26 different wildfires burning Tuesday covering nearly 3,600 acres.
A Heat Advisory is in effect for the Austin metro and the northern Hill Country Wednesday afternoon, with air temperatures expected to reach up to 105. Elevated fire weather conditions are expected to continue through at least Thursday afternoon, with a chance of isolated showers mainly east of I-35 Friday into the weekend.