Incident Publication

Crabapple Fire Daily Update

3/17/2025

9:30pm

Size: 9737 acres

Containment: 85%

Date Started: 3/15/2025

Cause: Unknown, under investigation

Crews spent the day strengthening existing containment lines and tying lines together. A focus was made on the northern edge of the fire for a wind shift bringing Red Flag conditions. The winds caused several flare-ups in green pockets of fuels on the interior of the fire. Aircraft and engines worked hotspots to ensure nothing could carry over the containment lines. 

A more accurate estimate of acreage was achieved due to IR flights and on the ground mapping. A Post Fire Assessment Team (PFAT) completed damage assessments of structures affected by the fire. Multiple homes and outbuildings were lost or damaged. Details are below. 

Texas Department of Emergency Management is working with residents to provide post-fire assistance. 

The Red Cross shelter has been closed. 

Currently, food, water and other supply donations are not needed. To help with recovery efforts from the Crabapple Fire, Gillespie County has partnered with the OneStar Foundation, Rebuild Texas to establish the Crabapple Disaster Fund. At this time, this is the best way to help. Donations can be made here: https://onestarfoundation.org/crabapple-fire-relief-fund/.

Weather: Critical fire weather conditions will occur from late this morning through this evening. Southerly winds will continue tonight bringing warmer, moister air into South-Central Texas. Skies should remain partly cloudy. Low temperatures Tuesday morning will be 10-15 degrees warmer than today and mostly in the 50s.

Structures Threatened Originally: Approximately 50

Evacuations and closures: 

Evacuations were made on an individual home basis. If you were evacuated you may return to your home as conditions allow. Be aware that there are still many hazards in the area. 

All roads have been re-opened, but please avoid the area if possible. Please respect private property if traveling through the burned area. 

Damages and Injuries: One minor injury to a firefighter, they are expected to make a full recovery.

Damage Assessment Results

9 total residences destroyed
- 7 occupied
- 2 confirmed unoccupied
2 residences damaged
20 outbuildings destroyed
4 outbuildings damaged

Superior Ranger District: Firefighters will burn up to 9 acres located 2.5 miles west of Superior at the junction of Johnson Lane and Southside Road.  Smoke may be visible from Interstate 90, the town of Superior and the residents of Johnson Lane. This project is in partnership with the Mule Deer Foundation.

Crabapple Fire Daily Update

3/17/2025

1:00pm

Size: 9737 acres

Containment: 65%

Date Started: 3/15/2025

Cause: Unknown, under investigation

Crews spent the night strengthening existing containment lines and tying lines together. Most of the fire is wrapped with containment line at this point, with only the difficult to access areas remaining. A focus was made on the northern edge of the fire and along Lower Crabapple Rd to prepare for a wind shift bringing Red Flag conditions. 

Today the focus will be on the northern edge of the fire, stretching from Lower Crabapple Rd to FM1631. These lines will be patrolled by engines and dozers. Hot spots are being worked by helicopters outfitted with buckets to drop water.

A more accurate estimate of acreage was achieved due to aerial reconnaissance and on the ground mapping. There have been multiple structures damaged, as well as several structure losses. The number of structures lost is still undetermined, since a proper assessment does take time to complete. Assessments began Sunday and will continue through today. Red Cross has set up a shelter at Zion Lutheran Church at 426 W. Main St for displaced residents. 

Currently, food, water and other supply donations are not needed. To help with recovery efforts from the Crabapple Fire, Gillespie County has partnered with the OneStar Foundation, Rebuild Texas to establish the Crabapple Disaster Fund. At this time, this is the best way to help. Donations can be made here: https://onestarfoundation.org/crabapple-fire-relief-fund/.

Weather: RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 10pm

Critical fire weather conditions will occur through this evening. Southerly winds increase to 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 35 mph. Relative humidities fall into the mid-teens this afternoon.

Structures Threatened: Approximately 50

Evacuations and closures: Evacuations were made on an individual home basis. If you were evacuated please do not return to your home without consulting with Gillespie County Sheriff’s office, as there are still many hazards in the area. All roads have been re-opened, but please avoid the area if possible. 

Damages and Injuries: Unknown number of homes damaged or lost. One minor injury of a firefighter has been reported, they are expected to make a full recovery. 

This week on the Upper Lake Ranger District, firefighters are attempting to burn roadside piles in the Bartlett Springs area. Conditions are potentially more favorable with increased humidity and recent precipitation. 

Firefighters will be closely monitoring weather and will use wind direction, time of day and inversion levels to minimize impacts from smoke as much as possible. There is potential for smoke to settle in the communities of Nice, Lucerne, Glenhaven and other locations around Clear Lake. Smoke may be visible along the Hwy 20 corridor. Visibility on roads may be reduced, especially early in the morning and late evening as smoke settles. 

All prescribed fire operations are approved by Lake County Air Quality Management District before beginning ignitions, and firefighters will carefully monitor and conduct patrols throughout burning operations.

This prescribed fire is part of an effort to reduce risks from hazard trees and maintain public safety and access for both the public and emergency personnel. Standing dead trees along roadsides have been cut and piled. Burning roadside piles will reduce hazardous fuels and is a critical step to prepare sites for reforestation.

More information about Mendocino National Forest’s prescribed fire operations is available online at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/camnf-mendocino-nf-fall-2024spring-2025-prescribed-fire-projects.

Crabapple Fire Daily Update

3/16/2025

9:00pm

Size: 9500 acres

Containment: 55%

Date Started: 3/15/2025

Cause: Unknown, under investigation

Crew spent the day strengthening existing containment lines and tying lines together. Most of the fire is wrapped with containment line at this point. Crews will continue working into the night to address potential problem areas throughout the fire. A wind shift is expected overnight, so the focus will be on strengthening the northern edge of the fire. 

A more accurate estimate of acreage was achieved in the daylight, totaling approximately 9500 acres. The number of structures lost is still unknown since much of the area is very rural and will take time to do a proper assessment. Assessments began today and will continue through tomorrow. Red Cross has set up a shelter at Zion Lutheran Church at 426 W. Main St. Currently, food, water and other supply donations are not needed. If the public would like to give to the relief effort, please email crabapplefire@fbgtx.org. 

Weather: Gusty south winds and continued low humidity will be expected across South Central Texas Monday resulting in critical fire weather conditions for areas mainly along and west of the I-35 corridor. Sustained winds around 15 to 25 mph with higher gusts to 35 mph will coincide with minimum RH values of 10 to 20 percent across the affected area. The wind speeds decrease and the humidity levels will recover later Monday night.

Structures Threatened: Approximately 50

Evacuations and closures: Evacuations were made on an individual home basis. Officials will make evacuations as needed. Please listen if you are asked to evacuate. 

Damages and Injuries: Unknown number of homes damaged or lost. One minor injury of a firefighter has been reported, they are expected to make a full recovery. 

Crabapple Fire Daily Update

3/16/2025

1:00pm

Size: 8640 acres

Containment: 40%

Date Started: 3/15/2025

Cause: Unknown, under investigation

Great progress was made overnight on the Crabapple Fire. Fire activity gradually decreased overnight, allow crews the chance to make headway on containment. Heavy equipment crews were able to establish line on the north side of the fire from Highway 16 N to FM1631. The fire was held at FM1631 and is currently being monitored to ensure it does not cross the highway. Equipment is making progress building containment line on the remainder of the fire. Aviation is being utilized to target problem areas and support ground personnel. 

As the day progresses officials will have a better understanding of how much the fire has actually burned. The number of structures lost is still unknown since much of the area is very rural and will take time to do a proper assessment. Red Cross has set up a shelter at Zion Lutheran Church at 426 W. Main St. Currently, food, water and other supply donations are not needed. If the public would like to give to the relief effort, please email crabapplefire@fbgtx.org. 

Smoke will likely increase as the day goes on and humidities decrease. Interior pockets of fuel will continue to burn, which may produce large amounts of smoke. 

Weather: West to northwest winds increase to 10 to 15 mph with gusts to 25 mph. Relative humidities fall into the lower teens. Smoke will likely increase as the day goes on and humidities decrease. Interior pockets of fuel will continue to burn as well. 

Structures Threathened: Approximately 50

Evacuations and closures: Residents affected by the fire are asked to stay out of the area until local authorities say it is safe to re-enter. Evacuations were made on an individual home basis, and were strongly encouraged. Officials will make further evacuations as needed. Please listen if you are asked to evacuate. 

Damages and Injuries: Unknown number of homes damaged or lost. No injuries reported at this time. 

All roads have been re-openened at this time. 

A temporary flight restriction (TFR) is in place for the Crabapple Fire area. The full details may be found at the Federal Aviation Administration website linked below. The purpose of the TFR is to provide a safe environment for firefighting aircraft to effectively work in the fire area. 

As always, for any fire, do not fly drones in the fire zone. Using unauthorized unmanned aerial systems (UAS), or drones, in a fire area endangers the lives of pilots and firefighters, forcing them to ground fire suppression aircraft to avoid the potential for a midair collision. This delay further threatens firefighters on the ground and community members. 

Crabapple Fire Daily Update

3/15/2025

11:30pm

Size: 8640 acres

Containment: 0%

Date Started: 3/15/2025

Cause: Unknown, under investigation

The Crabapple Fire is currently an estimated 8640 acres and 0% containment. At approximately 1:30pm Texas A&M Forest Service received a request for assistance on on a wildfire in Gillespie county. Due to the high winds and low humidty, conventional tactics were proving ineffective at stopping this fire. Crews worked on structure protection and focused on life safety as a priority. 

Heavy equipment was brought in to build containment line, while aircraft dropped water and retardant in an attempt to slow the spread. At nighfall the winds subsided, giving crews a chance to make progress on containment. Work will continue through the night to take advantage of the diminished fire activity. 

Aircraft will return in the morning to continue working and give a better view of the extent of the fire. 

Damage assessments will begin in the morning when the extent of damage can be more easliy assessed. 

Structures Threathened: Approximately 50

Evacuations and closures: Hwy 16 North from the Fredericksburg City limits to Eckert Road as well as Lower Crabapple From Eckert Road into Fredericksburg

Damages and Injuries: Unknown number of homes damaged. No injuries reported at this time. 

Cottonwood Creek Fire Daily Update

3/13/2025

10:00pm

Size: 633 acres

Containment: 95%

Date Started: 3/12/2025

Cause: Equipment use, skid steer mounted saw

Fire activity remained low throughout the day. Heavy equipment worked on improving and rehabing containment lines. Engines patrolled and addressed areas of concerns. The Air Attack platform aircraft flew over the fire several times and guided the engines to remaining hotspots. 

The fire has shown no growth over the last operational period and has been turned over to the local departments for the evening. The fire will likely remain at 95% containment through Saturday due to the wind event forecast for Friday.

Low humidity and gusty winds will continue tomorrow and for the foreseeable future. Please exercise caution with any outdoor activities that may cause heat or a spark.

Barring any unforseen changes, this will be the last update.

Structures: No structures currently threatened; No structures lost

Evacuations and closures: No evacuations or closures are currently in place. Please avoid the area to allow responders to work safely.

Damages and Injuries: There have been no reports of structure loss, injuries, or equipment damage.