Austin News
Grass fire burns thousands of acres 
11:07 PM CDT on Thursday, August 7, 2008
A large fire in Williamson County Thursday afternoon threatened dozens of homes.
Fire officials have evacuated 60 homes in the rural area south of Florence and were evacuating more as the fire grew to 2,100 acres. Connie Watson, public information officer for Williamson County, said 20 homes have been evacuated on Pecan Branch Road and about 40 homes evacuated on County Road 233.
As of Thursday evening, crews had the fire 40-percent contained.
Nearly a dozen fire departments were battling the grass fire, and the Texas Forest Service and STARFlight helicopters were helping to drop water on the fire. Fire crews from Fort Hood to Austin were helping fight the fire.
There were no reports of injuries and no reports that any homes were damaged. An out-building was burned.
A shelter has been set up at Florence Middle School in Florence for people who had to evacuate.
"It's very dangerous because of the drought situation," said Mary Kay Hicks with the Texas Forest Service.
Crews fighting the fire have got two problems—the grass is extremely dry due to the drought and the wind that fuels the fire and makes it harder to fight.
"When you put the fire out in tall dry grass with drought add wind all it needs is a spark," said Hicks.
Sandra Montgomery isn't taking any chances.
"I do need to some important things and put them in the trunk of my car. I don't have electricity or water so I'm going to go to my son's house," Montgomery said as she was packing up her possessions.
No word yet how the fire started.
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