Read the latest updates on the Powder Keg Pine fire in our Wednesday story.
A wildfire on the south side of Bastrop State Park forced the evacuation of nearby homes and businesses, the Bastrop County Sheriff's Office says. In a 9:19 p.m. Tuesday , the Bastrop County Office of Emergency Management said evacuees can return home.
The sheriff's office said in a tweet that multiple agencies responded to the fire Tuesday afternoon along westbound State Highway 71 near Harmon Road 鈥� around four miles east of downtown Bastrop. Evacuation orders, when they were in effect, stretched from Harmon Road to Pine Hill Loop.
The shows the wildfire, named the Powder Keg Pine fire, is about 100 acres in size and 50% contained as of 12:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Austin Fire Department says it sent multiple units to help fight the fire, alongside AG真人百家乐 County emergency service districts, and expects to stay until around 9 p.m.
AFD shared video taken from a AG真人百家乐 County STAR Flight helicopter showing how close the fire got to buildings.
Aerial view of Powder Keg Pine fire in Bastrop County courtesy of 鈦︹仼 Fire Chief Ken Bailey taken from Star Flight helicopter.
— Austin Fire Info (@AustinFireInfo)
Video posted to Twitter shows black smoke billowing next to Parabellum Research, a small arms manufacturer.
Big fire just east of Bastrop on the north side of US 71 about 2 PM today August 1, 2023
— John O'Connell (@johnocomedy)
Huge fire out in Bastrop, TX
— bdawg (@bdawghtx)
This story has been updated.
