Fredericksburg, Texas - The Fredericksburg Fire/EMS Department in conjunction with crews from across the region, state and nation are continuing to manage the Crabapple Fire.

The Texas A&M Forest Service has kept the level of containment at 90 percent and the affected area has remained unchanged at an estimated 9,858 acres.

"We were prepared for the wind switch that took place this morning with crews stationed along the southern edge of the affected area," Fredericksburg Fire Chief Lynn Bizzell said. "The wind is causing some flare ups today, but crews have been able to respond quickly and work to keep them inside the containment lines."

The area is under a Red Flag Warning until 9 p.m. with northwest winds 15 to 25 mph and gusts up to 40 and relative humidity as low as seven percent. However, winds are forecasted to taper off overnight and remain calmer than previous days on Thursday.

Drink, snack, meals and other supplies for firefighters are not needed at this time. To support recovery efforts from the Crabapple Fire, Gillespie County has partnered with the OneStar Foundation and Rebuild Texas to establish the Crabapple Fire Relief Fund. It is the only approved online donation portal. Donations can be made at onestarfoundation.org/crabapple-fire-relief-fund.

Landowners and ranchers that have been affected by the fire and those that want to help them should reach out to the local Texas A&M AgriLife Extension office at (830) 997-3452 to learn more about efforts to help the agriculture community.

FIRE INFORMATION

The fire started around 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 15, near 8700 Lower Crabapple Road, which is nearly 11 miles north of downtown Fredericksburg and moved east across Highway 16 North due to high winds and prime conditions for wildfires in the area.

Late on Sunday, one Fredericksburg firefighter was injured, while working the fire. A tree limb fell and caused injury. The firefighter was taken to the hospital and treated and has since been released.

As of 7:30 a.m. on Monday, March 17, all roads have reopened to any necessary travel.

As crews continue to work, everyone is asked to avoid the area unless it is necessary.People traveling through the area should listen to crews on the ground about access.

As of 4 p.m. on Monday, the Red Cross shelter in Fredericksburg at Zion Lutheran Church at 426 W. Main St. has closed. They served seven people and are keeping the ability to reopen if necessary.

On Monday at 8:45 p.m., damage assessments from the Texas A&M Forest Service and the Texas Division of Emergency Management were released…

• 9 total residences destroyed
  • 7 possibly occupied & 2 confirmed unoccupied
• 2 residences damaged
• 20 outbuildings destroyed
• 4 outbuildings damaged

On Monday night, officials gave the go ahead for people that had evacuated to return as conditions allow.

On Tuesday evening, the Texas A&M Forest Service and the Gillespie County Sheriff's Office announced the origin of the Crabapple Fire was a roadside start near the 8700 block of Lower Crabapple Road. The cause is undetermined.

The Fredericksburg Fire/EMS Facebook page will be updated as information becomes available. To learn more about the City of Fredericksburg Fire/EMS, go to FBGTX.org or contact City Hall at (830) 997-7521.

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