Conditions have been ideal for prescribed fire with cool temperatures and wet weather. Firefighters on the Grindstone District are planning to burn another 50-60 acres today in the Letts Lake basin. After ignitions today, the units will remain in patrol status over the weekend and into next week. Some smoke may be visible. 

Dry and warmer weather will return Friday over the weekend, but an active weather pattern is in the forecast for next week. Forest fire and fuels staff will look for additional burning opportunities next week pending favorable conditions. 

Beginning March 10-16 firefighters on the Upper Lake Ranger District plan to burn potentially 96 acres of piles along the roadside in the Bartlett Springs area, located northeast of North Shore communities Nice and Lucerne. There is potential for smoke to settle in the communities of Nice, Lucerne, Glenhaven and other locations around Clear Lake. Firefighters will use wind direction, time of day and inversion levels to minimize impacts from smoke as much as possible.

This prescribed fire operation 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. All prescribed fire operations are carefully monitored, and firefighters will conduct patrols following burning operations. 

Calaveras Fire Final Update

Wednesday, March 5, 2025

Size: 284 acres

Containment: 90%

Start Date: March 4, 2025

Cause: Undetermined, Under investigation

The Calaveras Fire started on March 4th, 2025, and began to grow quickly and was initially responded to by local fire departments. Texas A&M Forest Service was requested to provide additional assistance and brought additional fire engines, heavy equipment, and fire fighters to assist with suppressing these fires. Texas A&M Forest Service is working in unified command with local fire departments and Bexar County. 

This will be the final update if no additional fire growth occurs.

Yesterday: 

Even with elevated weather, firefighting crews were able to slow growth on the Calaveras Fire yesterday through the combined efforts of local fire departments, engines from Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS), and heavy equipment from Texas A&M Forest Service. Into the evening fire activity diminished and there were minimal threats to containment lines. Firefighters were able to patrol containment lines that protected structures and slowed fire spread to ensure the fire was not growing. With the containment lines completed, the heavy equipment from Texas A&M Forest Service and the engines from TIFMAS are returning to their staging locations so they are ready to respond to the next wildfire that starts. San Antonio Fire Department was able to continue monitoring throughout the evening. 

Today: San Antonio firefighters returned to the scene in the morning and continued efforts throughout the day to make sure fire activity remains minimal. They worked into the interior of the fire to ensure there aren’t hot spots that will flare up to compromise containment lines. Firefighters do this by removing burning material, felling fire damaged trees, and cooling ash pits. Local fire departments will continue to monitor this fire for the next few days. 

Weather and Fire Behavior: Winds are expected to remain high but lighter than yesterday allowing firefighters to better contain the wildfire and prepare for new wildfire starts. 

Evacuations: There are no evacuation orders.

Damages/Injuries: Currently there have been no injuries to firefighters. After crews assessed the area, it was determined that 1 residential structure and 4 outbuildings were lost. 

Closures: There are no road closures.

Fire Information 

Information Officer

Texas A&M Forest Service

Email: information@tfs.tamu.edu

Phone: 979-255-0591

Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/txtxs-calaveras-fire

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AllHazardsTFS

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AllHazardsTFS

Duke Fire Final Update

Wednesday, March 5, 2025

Size: 244 acres

Containment: 100%

Start Date: March 4, 2025

Cause: Undetermined, Under investigation

The Duke Fire started on March 4th, 2025, and began to grow quickly and was initially responded to by local fire departments. Texas A&M Forest Service was requested to provide additional assistance and brought additional fire engines, heavy equipment, aircraft, and fire fighters to assist with suppressing these fires. Texas A&M Forest Service is working in unified command with local fire departments, Bexar County, and Atascosa County.

This will be the final update if no additional fire growth occurs.

Yesterday: 

Firefighting crews were able to slow growth on the Duke Fire yesterday and into the night through the combined efforts of local fire departments, engines from Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS), and heavy equipment from Texas A&M Forest Service. Firefighters were able to construct containment lines that protected structures and slowed fire spread as the evening went on. When crews left for the night, fire activity was greatly reduced. 

Today: Firefighters were back on scene this morning and they worked to complete the containment lines around the perimeter of the fire. Engines continue to patrol around the perimeter of the wildfire, mitigating hot spots and flare ups that were found throughout the day while continuing to look for any areas of heat that could be a threat to the containment lines. Ground crews were able to successfully work with aircraft to secure containment lines and eliminate heat in areas of concern. Some heat remains in interior areas with heavy vegetation, but they are not currently a threat to fire containment. With the containment lines completed, the heavy equipment from Texas A&M Forest Service and the engines from TIFMAS are returning to their staging locations so they are ready to respond to the next wildfire that starts. Local fire departments will continue to monitor this fire for the next few days and additional information can be found with Bexar County at https://www.bexar.org/ .

Weather and Fire Behavior: Winds are expected to remain high but lighter than yesterday allowing firefighters to better contain the wildfire and prepare for new wildfire starts. 

Evacuations: There are no evacuation orders.

Damages/Injuries: At this time there have been two local firefighters who were taken to the hospital with minor injuries. After crews assessed the area, it was determined that 45 total structures were lost: 13 residential structures and 32 outbuildings. 

Closures: There are no road closures.

Fire Information 

Information Officer

Texas A&M Forest Service

Email: information@tfs.tamu.edu

Phone: 979-255-0591

Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/txtxs-duke-fire

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AllHazardsTFS

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AllHazardsTFS

Onion Creek Fire Daily Update
March 5, 2025
6:00 pm.

Size: 190 acres
Containment: 80%
Start Date: March 4, 2025
Cause: Undetermined; cause is under investigation

*Media Location: There is no longer a physical location for media on the fire. Please reach out to contacts on InciWeb.  

The Onion Creek Fire started on March 4th in north Hays County and was initially responded to by local fire departments. Texas A&M Forest Service was requested to provide assistance in the form of additional firefighters and heavy equipment at 4:12 pm and quickly responded. Texas A&M Forest Service is currently in unified command with local fire departments and Hays County. Crews continue to construct containment lines around the outside of the fire with bulldozers and protect structures both within the burned areas and in the path of the fire. 

This fire started during a period of extreme fire risk due to high temperatures, low humidity, and extremely high winds. These factors together all led to the possibility for fires to start and rapidly expand in size and become highly resistant to control efforts by fire department. Crews are working through these difficulties to protect the public and the structures around this wildfire. 

Initially, several roads were closed and voluntary evacuations were put into place to move members of the public away from the fire, providing safety for the public and allowing firefighters to better protect their structures. 

Planned Actions:
Dozer will be on scene as a contingency resource. Engine crews will continue patrolling the line and will continue mop activities. The main focus will be on containment and mop up activities. Crews will continue to monitor the weather throughout the evening and evaluate changing conditions.

Weather Concerns: 
A period of elevated fire weather conditions is forecast for Thursday. Breezy southerly winds will develop, with gusts between 20 and 30 mph while relative humidity values will dip to 20-30% in the afternoon. 

Evacuations and Closures:
No evacuations or closures at this time.

Damages and Injuries:
Currently, there have been no reports of injuries from the public or first responders. No structures or critical infrastructure have been lost or are currently threatened.

 At the request of the property owner, onsite media interviews will be not be available at this time. For media request please contact by phone or email. 

Contact 
Kiley Moran at kiley.moran@tfs.tamu.edu or 254-457-8075
Information Officer at information@tfs.tamu.edu or 979-255-0591

Klett Fire Final Update

Wednesday, March 5, 2025

Size: 101 acres

Containment: 95%

Start Date: March 4, 2025

Cause: Undetermined, Under investigation

The Klett Fire started on March 4th, 2025 and began to grow quickly and was initially responded to by local fire departments. Texas A&M Forest Service was requested to provide additional assistance and brought additional fire engines, heavy equipment, and fire fighters to assist with suppressing these fires. Texas A&M Forest Service is working in unified command with local fire departments and Blanco County.

This will be the final update if no additional fire growth occurs.

Yesterday: Crews were able to stop growth on the Klett Fire last night through the combined efforts of local fire departments, engines from Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS), and heavy equipment from Texas A&M Forest Service. Firefighters were able to stop fire growth and began constructing containment lines, preventing any further fire spread as the evening went on. Crews stayed with the fire last night through the rest of the wind event to patrol the containment lines and extinguish any heat along the lines.

Today: Firefighters were back on scene this morning and they worked to complete the containment lines around the perimeter of the fire. Engines continue to patrol around the perimeter of the wildfire looking for any areas of heat that could be a threat to the containment lines. With the containment lines completed the heavy equipment from Texas A&M Forest Service and the engines from TIFMAS are returning to their staging locations so they are ready to respond to the next wildfire that starts. Local fire departments will continue to monitor this fire for the next few days and additional information can be found with Blanco County Office of Emergency Management. 

Weather and Fire Behavior: Winds are expected to remain high but lighter than yesterday allowing firefighters to better contain the wildfire and prepare for new wildfire starts. 

Evacuations: There are no evacuation orders.

Damages/Injuries: Two local firefighters did sustain minor injuries, but they have been treated and released.

Closures: There are no road closures.

Fire Information 

Information Officer

Texas A&M Forest Service

Email: information@tfs.tamu.edu

Phone: 979-255-0591

Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/txtxs-klett-fire

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AllHazardsTFS

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AllHazardsTFS

Air resources have been requested to the Onion Creek Fire. One Texas Parks and Wildlife helocopter and two Texas Military Department Blackhawks will work with ground crews to drop water on difficult to access areas. Smoke may become visible as the day progresses, however crews are still actively working to ensure containment.

Size: 284 acres
Containment: 85%
Start Date: March 4, 2025
Cause: Unknown, under investigation; 

The Calaveras fire has had containment lines constructed around most of the perimeter of the fire. Fire activity is mostly diminished but there are some areas within the footprint that are burning but those areas currently do not pose a threat to the containment lines. Local firefighters are continuing to monitor and extinguish any hotspots found. 

Evacuations and Closures:
There are no evacuation orders at this time.

Damages and Injuries:
There are no injuries at this time. 

Reports of structure damage include one residential structure and 4 outbuildings. 

Duke Fire Daily Update
March 5, 2025
11:30 a.m.
 

Size: 150 acres
Containment: 35%
Start Date: March 4, 2025
Cause: Unknown, under investigation; 

With lighter winds and higher relative humidity levels overnight, the Duke Fire has slowed down but continues to burn through vegetation. There have been some areas of the fire heating back up along the perimeter but firefighters on the ground have been able to work in coordination with aviation resources to control those areas of concern. 

Firefighters are continuing to construct and improve existing containment lines using a bulldozer, clearing all grass, brush, and debris away from the fire to stop fire growth and protect structures. These containment lines will also allow firefighting crews to provide more accurate mapping of the fire. This process of constructing lines and patrolling them takes time but is critically important to lower the chance of additional fire growth. 

Crews from Bexar County, Atascosa County, and state agencies will continue their work throughout today to hold the fire ahead of elevated fire weather conditions expected through this afternoon. 

Evacuations and Closures:
There is no voluntary evacuation order at this time. 

Damages and Injuries:
At this time there have been 2 local firefighters who were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

There are reports of damaged structures but these are still being assessed to ensure accurate numbers.

Welder Complex Update

Wednesday, March 5, 2025

Size: 782 acres for both fires in the complex

Containment: Welder Fire: 75% Railway Fire: 65%

Start Date: March 4, 2025

Cause: Undetermined, Under investigation

The Welder Complex started on March 4th, 2025 with two separate fires, the Welder fire and the Railway Fire. These fires both began to grow quickly and were initially responded to by local fire departments. Texas A&M Forest Service was requested to provide additional assistance and brought additional fire engines, heavy equipment, and fire fighters to assist with suppressing these fires.

Yesterday: Crews were able to stop growth on both fires last night and began constructing containment lines around the perimeter of the fires. Firefighters worked to secure any structures that were inside the burned area and make sure that no further damage may occur to the structures. Crews worked into the night patrolling through the burned areas and around the perimeter of the Railway Fire.

Today: Fire engines from Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS) will be working around the structures inside the burn scar from the Welder fire. They will be focusing on the structures in this area working to identify and mitigate hazards and ensure there is no further damage to the structures. On the Railway Fire bulldozers will be working to complete containment lines around the outside of the fire to allow fire engines to patrol the line and mop up any areas of heat. 

Weather and Fire Behavior: High winds are expected again today but not at the level that was observed yesterday. Forecasts show winds around 10 mph with gusts up to 20 mph out of the north. Humidity values will be higher than they were yesterday as well, leading to better conditions for fire fighters to hold the fires within the containment lines.

Evacuations: All evacuation orders have been lifted at this time. Please use caution as you return to your homes, areas that are within the burn scar may have damaged power lines and damaged trees that could fall from winds. Fire crews will still be working in the area so use caution as you drive around.

Damages/Injuries: There are damaged structures at this time and crews are working to evaluate and assess the level of damage and protect all structures within the burned areas. There were four firefighters who received minor injuries, were treated, and returned home.

Closures: All road closures have been lifted at this time.

Fire Information 

Heather Gonzales

Texas A&M Forest Service

Email: hgonzales@tfs.tamu.edu

Phone: 361-212-9270

Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/txtxs-welder-complex

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AllHazardsTFS

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AllHazardsTFS