150 Homes Evacuated In Horseshoe Bay Amid Massive Brush Fire

HORSESHOE BAY, TEXAS — At least 150 homes have been evacuated in Horseshoe Bay after a large brush fire erupted Saturday afternoon, city officials said.

The fire broke out at around 2 p.m. east of the Horseshoe Bay Resort Airport, and spread over 400 acres, according to City of Horseshoe Bay officials said in a press advisory. Numerous fire agencies in the area reported to help douse the flames, city officials noted, including county volunteer fire departments in Llano and Burnet as well as crews from the City of Marble Falls, officials said.

Given the expanse of the fire — likely exacerbated by heat hovering at around 100 degrees — residents in the Highlands, Uplands and Horseshoe Bay South voluntarily evacuated from their homes, according to city officials. City officials added that between 100 to 150 homes were evacuated as the fire raged nearby.

In a press advisory issued just after 7 p.m. Saturday, city officials said the fire had spread to 500 acres with a 90 percent containment. Given the advances in containment, city officials in an 8 p.m. update said displaced residents would be allowed back into their homes at 10 p.m.

Notwithstanding the large area on fire, city officials said, no reports of structure damage have emerged.

"Crews are currently working to increase containment using heavy equipment and fire engines," the city's press advisory reads. "In addition to local firefighting resources on scene, there is currently heavy equipment and fire engine crews from the Texas A&M Forest Service (TFS) on scene."

Among the firefighting equipment are active air operations, including one helicopter an air attack unit and a pair of single engine air tankers, city officials said. City officials said firefighters are expected to work through the night in battling the blaze.

Officials said displaced residents can seek shelter at the Quail Point Community Center in Horseshoe Bay, located at 107 Twilight Lane. A donation drive has been launched, seeking in particular Gatorade for the weary, thirsty firefighters.

Among the fire departments aiding in the fire-fighting effort are:

• City of Horseshoe Bay Fire Department
• City of Horseshoe Bay Police Department
• City of Horseshoe Bay Utilities Department
• City of Marble Falls Fire Department
• Llano County Office of Emergency Management
• Spicewood VFD (volunteer fire department)
• Granite Shoals VFD
• Hoover Valley VFD
• Buchanan Dam VFD
• East Lake Buchanan Dam VFD
• Burnet County VFD
• Llano County VFD
• Cottonwood VFD
• East Lake Travis VFD
• Marble Falls VFD
• Sunrise Beach VFD
• Cassie VFD
• Oakalla VFD
• Brigss VFD
• Kingsland VFD
• Kingsland Ladies Auxiliary
• Johnson City VFD
• Burnet County Sheriff's Office
• Llano County Sheriff's Office
• Texas Department of Public Safety
• Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Game Warden
• Texas A&M Forest Service

Located in Llano County, Horseshoe Bay is 53 miles northwest of Austin.

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