Second wildfire burns through Dripping Springs

A wildfire near the Hays-Blanco County line, named the Smoke Rider Fire, burned through over 1,210 acres, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.

The fire began in the early afternoon of Tuesday, August 2, moving northwest towards U.S. Highway 290. By the end of the day, its damage spanned over 800 acres. The fire reached 100% containment on Monday, August 8 — but not before it had burned down seven homes and an RV.

The cause of the burn is still under investigation, according to the Incident Information System.

'Hays County has deployed our Wildland Task Force to assist Blanco County,” said Fire Chief Scott Collard with the North Hays County Fire Rescue. “The fire is moving rapidly and threatening multiple properties and structures. Ranch Road 165 is closed at Farm-to-Market 2325 and at U.S. Highway 290.'

U.S. Highway 290 was also shut down at FM 3232.

'There are some people that have evacuated,” he continued. “More evacuations may be necessary. Fire units are defending structures near the county line ahead of the fire.”

A temporary evacuation center was set up at the Blanco United Methodist Church. Dripping Springs Ranch Park housed horses displaced by the fire, while additional local businesses and shelters took in other displaced animals.

While the Dripping Springs and Blanco communities were quick to help, the disastrous impacts of the fire were traumatizing for its victims.

“I sat on the side of the road for three hours just watching helicopters fly overhead,” said resident Emily Hill. “I watched big billows of black smoke come up every time it hit a house… it was traumatizing.”

Hill lived in one of the homes destroyed by the fire, which displaced her, her two children, and her parents. Her sister and brother-in-law lived in an RV on the property, which was also destroyed.

“I was at work in Austin… my dad and kids noticed smoke coming from east of the hill on our side,” she described. “My dad went down to my sister and brother-in-law in the RV and the cops were already evacuating them. There was zero reflex time — it was get out and move now; there was no warning.”

By the time Hill left work and drove to meet her evacuated family — a commute about 20 minutes long — there was no access to her home. With the swift and unexpected nature of the evacuation, two dogs, two cats and two guinea pigs had been left behind and could not be retrieved. All are presumed to have died in the fire.

“My family is safe, stuff is just stuff, but the pets… they were family too,” Hill said through tears. “There should be some sort of system like tornado warnings: ‘get cover now.’ Maybe in the future, that could give people heads up to understand the severity of the situation.”

Hill and the remainder of her family have been separated from each other since the fire, each staying in what lodging they could find while her children stay with family in Lockhart.

“Fortunately, I’d already registered my kids in Dripping Springs [ISD] for this year, but you need documents for everything. We don’t have birth certificates, social security cards… we’re basically back to square one,” Hill said. “My youngest doesn’t really understand, so she’s been higher in spirit, but it definitely affected the mental health of my oldest… she lost her computer, all her stuff for school.”

Hill said she is thankful for all of the support she and her family have received from the Dripping Springs community, but she said she dreads the long process that it will take to rebuild not only a life but also a home.

“It’s been awesome to see the community out there, pushing to try and raise some money,” she said. “It’s just going to take a lot of time.”

Dripping Springs residents and local businesses have organized multiple relief and fundraising efforts for the Smoke Rider Fire. These include Burgers and Bands, a fundraiser for fire victims at Homespun Kitchen and Bar. The event will take place on Saturday, Aug. 13, from 1 to 2 p.m. and will feature live music, a silent auction and food and beverages for purchase.

Meanwhile, other businesses, such as 12 Fox Brewing, offered free food and drinks to first responders.

The Smoke Rider Fire is the second 200+ acre wildfire to burn in the Dripping Springs area in the last month. The Gatlin Creek Fire burned over 325 acres July 6–8.

For more information on the Smoke Rider Fire, visit public.tfswildfires.com or follow Blanco County Emergency Management on Facebook. For the latest information on fire relief and donation efforts, join the Dripping Springs Relief group on Facebook.