ENVIRONMENT
Brush re in Cedar Park burns 50 acres; one apartment building lost
A 50-acre brush re resulted in the loss of one 24-unit apartment building, the destruction of three other build- ings and evacuation orders for nearby residents in Cedar Park on Aug. 8. The brush re started near the Bexley at Silverado apartment complex at 12820 W. Parmer Lane, Cedar Park, destroying one building and damaging two others in the complex. Townhome complex Whitestone Landing and The Shops at Silverado were also evacuated, but no damages were reported by city o cials as of press time. What happened: Emergency responders were called to the scene on Aug. 8 for a brush re o of Parmer Lane. Emergency responders from 20 di erent agencies and over 200 re ghters responded to the re overnight. During this time, two dozen crews created a containment line to prevent the re from spread- ing, Cedar Park re Chief James Mallinger said. About 50 acres of grass were burned by the re, and a total of about 300 apartment units, 95 townhomes and multiple businesses were evacuated. Residents whose buildings were una ected returned to their homes Aug. 9. The wild re began as a grass re and spread to trees, which then reached the apartment buildings, Mallinger said. Next steps: Resources are available for residents in need of assistance BY GRACE DICKENS & CHLOE YOUNG
FIGHTING THE FIRE The brush re in Cedar Park that broke out Aug. 8 burned 50 acres of land, resulting in the evacuation of almost 400 residential units in the area and the nearby business complex.
Whitestone Landing Bexley at Silverado The Shops at Silverado
burned areas
SOURCE: TEXAS A&M FOREST SERVICE COMMUNITY IMPACT
Emergency responders from over 20 agencies worked together to ght the re.
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GRACE DICKENS COMMUNITY IMPACT
following the re, including the American Red Cross and the Austin Disaster Relief Network, which are partnering to provide a ected fam- ilies with vouchers for Hope Family Thrift Store, among other services. Mayor Jim Penniman-Morin said the city would share more informa- tion on how residents can protect their homes as wild re risks rise. “With a summer like we’ve had, with this kind of heat and the wind we had [Aug. 8], this is a danger that has always been present,” Cedar Park Mayor Jim Penniman-Morin said. “It’s worse than it ever has been this summer, and it’s quite likely to be worse in the future. ... It’s really important that every community continues to work on ways to prevent re and mitigate the risk from it.”
The brush re burned an estimated 50 acres in Cedar Park.
COURTESY CITY OF CEDAR PARK
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