Austin, TX

Texas fire officials say wildfires could happen anytime, anywhere

Published

1 year ago

August 10, 2023

Texas fire officials say wildfires could happen anytime, anywhere

Wildfire could happen anytime, anywhere

The Forest Service and AFD wildfire crews spoke about the very real possibility that a wildfire could happen anytime, anywhere, including in urban areas of Austin.

AUSTIN, Texas – Tuesday night’s destructive grass fire, turned apartment complex fire in Cedar Park demonstrated the sheer danger and unpredictability of the current wildfire season in Central Texas.

“The one takeaway is just how quickly, you know, a situation like that can evolve. You know, really, it doesn’t take a large fire in the wildland urban interface to cause massive loss,” said Walter Flocke of the Texas A&M Forest Service.

The Parmer Lane Fire sparked the same day the Forest Service increased its Wildland Fire Preparedness Level to Level 4, largely because of the dry conditions.

“Basically it means that we’re ramping into really the thick of fire season now. We’re seeing an increased number of requests, and we’re seeing from those requests an increased number of fires that are harder to control,” said Flocke.

Large grass fire on Decker Lane in Austin

Fire crews are working to put out a fire near the Travis County Expo Center. This is a three-alarm fire.

In just the past week, the Powder Keg Pine Fire scorched nearly 120 acres in Bastrop County, the Oak Grove fire near San Marcos burned 400 acres—destroying a home and other structures over the weekend—and in Kyle 50 homes were evacuated Tuesday after being threatened by a wildfire.

“Oftentimes, the more rural areas will start sparking fires before we do. So it’s a real cue that as these areas around us start burning, that we should anticipate that the fires will be moving into our area,” said Lt. Steve Gibbon of the Austin Fire Department’s Wildfire Division.

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AFD’s Wildfire Division has been on scene assisting at many of these recent fires, including the one in Cedar Park.

“We train in a way, and we develop policies where we can assist our partners and other communities when they’re experiencing wildfires, because we’re going to need help some day, and we’re going to ask them to show up for us,” said Wildfire Mitigation Officer Justice Jones with the Austin Fire Department.

Dozens lose their homes in Parmer Lane Fire

Multiple apartment units sustained fire damage after a brush fire spread over 50 acres in Cedar Park, leaving many without homes. One building was called a “total loss” by officials.

The city of Austin has seen its share of brush fires: one sparked in a homeless camp off Bluff Springs Road Friday, a grass fire along the railroad tracks downtown the same day, and then on Saturday a brush fire along Southwest Parkway was likely sparked by dragging chains.

“It’s really important that people obey the burn bans and are mindful that, you know, just chains from the back of a truck can cause a wildfire, a cigarette,” said Austin’s District 10 Council Member Alison Alter.

Alter says wildfires are most likely to strike around the perimeter of the city.

“All of those areas lie in what’s called the wildland urban interface,” said Alter. “The risks here are very real. We have been really lucky.”

But the fire in Cedar Park showed just how quickly that luck can run out, and why being ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice can be lifesaving.

“Particularly if you live in a high risk area, I would say having a good evacuation plan and having a “go bag” ready is essential after what we saw yesterday,” said Flocke.

To learn more about your wildfire risk, click here.

For resources on preparing for a wildfire in the city of Austin, click here.

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Austin, TX

This Texas city ranks among 10 best to live in the US. See full list, how others scored

Published

7 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Press Room

This Texas city ranks among 10 best to live in the US. See full list, how others scored

A Texas city has been named among the top ten U.S. cities to live in over the next two years.

Ten Texas cities were included in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2025-2026 Best Places to Live list. For the annual rankings, U.S. News analyzed 150 major cities in the U.S. based on quality of life, job market, value of living and people’s desire to live in the area.

How did your city fare on the list? Here’s a breakdown of the data.

LIST: 10 best US cities to live

Texas’ capital secured a spot in the top 10 places to live, as determined by U.S. News.

Naples, Florida
Boise, Idaho
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Greenville, South Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Raleigh, North Carolina
Huntsville, Alabama
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Austin, Texas
Boulder, Colorado

Austin offers healthy balance of work and pleasure, US News says

Austin had an overall score of 6.8 out of 10, compared to Naples’ score of 7.1. The Texas capital also scored 6.8 in the quality of life index, with a value index score of 6.3.

“With the slogan ‘Keep Austin Weird,’ this Texas city is laid-back to the point that if you’re dressing up, it must be a life event,” the U.S. News analysis says. “People here enjoy the outdoors, even more so with their dogs. Austin has a contagious vibrancy and enthusiasm.”

U.S. News notes Austin’s strongest assets are a mix of work and pleasure. The number of companies headquartered in Austin makes it attractive to working professionals, especially those in technology, government, education, and health care. But the capital is far from being “all work, no play.” Its claim as the live music capital of the world invites music lovers to take a listen, whether at the airport, along streets downtown, or at one of the approximate 200 venues throughout the area.

Austin also ranked no. 32 on U.S. News’ Best Places to Retire in 2025 list.

LIST: Best Texas cities to live

Here are the rankings and scores U.S. News gave for the ten Texas cities included in the list:

Ranking	City	Overall Score	Quality of Life	Value Index
#9	Austin	6.8	6.8	6.3
#48	McAllen	6.4	6.6	7.6
#62	El Paso	6.3	6.5	7.3
#77	Corpus Christi	6.2	5.8	7.0
#87	Brownsville	6.2	6.2	7.7
#89	San Antonio	6.1	6.1	6.8
#95	Dallas	6.1	6.4	5.6
#97	Houston	6.1	5.9	6.2
#99	Beaumont	6.1	5.5	7.3
#107	Killeen	6.0	5.9	7.3

Table by Alexis Simmerman/American-Statesman | Data by U.S. News & World Report

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Austin, TX

(2013) Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin •

Published

15 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Press Room

(2013) Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin •

Abigail Noel FISHER, Petitioner v. UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN et al. No. 11-345. Supreme Court of United States. Argued October 10, 2012. Decided June 24, 2013. Bert W. Rein, Washington, DC, Petitioner. Gregory G. Garre, Washington, DC, for Respondents. Donald B. Verilli, Jr., for … Read More(2013) Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin

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Austin, TX

The drive by No. 3 Texas to top of SEC fueled by defense with Kentucky

Published

1 day ago

November 21, 2024

Press Room

The drive by No. 3 Texas to top of SEC fueled by defense with Kentucky

AUSTIN, Texas — Look under the hood of Texas’ drive to the top of the Southeastern Conference standings in its first season in the league and it is easy to see what generates the horsepower: Defense.

Texas (9-1, 5-1 SEC) plays Kentucky (4-6, 1-6) on Saturday and the Longhorns rank No. 1 in total defense, No. 1 in fewest passing yards allowed and No. 4 in points allowed per game (11.6). With two games left in the regular season, the Longhorns are tied for first in the SEC and rank No. 3 in the College Football Playoff.

This is from the team that boasted the “All gas, no brakes” motto about explosive offense when coach Steve Sarkisian took over the program in 2021.

“I love it what we’re doing defensively,” Sarkisian said. “I don’t think our guys believe that anyone can move the ball on them, that anyone’s going to score. And that’s a beautiful thing to watch.”

Texas has allowed 10 points or less five times this season, which started with a shutout and includes two games of not allowing a touchdown. The secondary has surrendered just three passing touchdowns while taking away 15 interceptions. Senior cornerback Jahdae Barron leads the team with four.

“The experience of our secondary is what has led to this,” Sarkisian said of the turnover-to-touchdowns ratio. “We just don’t blow coverages … They make every pass feel contested.”

Texas needs a win in its final two games to stay on track for the SEC championship game and hold a position in the playoff hunt as one of the top four seeds. Kentucky would love to play the spoiler in an otherwise dismal season.

Texas will be Kentucky’s fourth opponent ranked seventh or higher. The Wildcats beat Mississippi in the first one, then lost to Georgia and Tennessee by a total of eight points. The Wildcats have played in a bowl the last eight seasons and need to win their final two games to keep that streak alive.

“I want to finish strong,” Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said.

Ewers’ final home game?

Texas junior quarterback Quinn Ewers may be playing his final home game at Texas. The three-year starter led the Longhorns to the playoff last season, then opted to return instead of turning pro. An abdomen injury has hampered his season, but Ewers has still passed for 1,898 yards and 21 touchdowns. He avoided a question from reporters if this could be his final home game. Texas will honor its seniors before kickoff.

Inside outside

Texas senior defensive tackle Alfred Collins had the best game of his career last week against Arkansas with a sack, and a forced fumble that helped closed out the victory. At 6-foot-5, 325 pounds, he has emerged as the dominant pocket pusher to compliment the edge rush of standout freshman Colin Simmons, who leads Texas with six sacks.

Waiting for Vandagriff

Ewers and Kentucky’s Brock Vandagriff were both ranked among the top high school quarterbacks in the country in the 2021 recruiting class. The Wildcats are waiting for the Georgia transfer to have a breakout game this season. He has passed for 1,542 yards, nine touchdowns and seven interceptions. His 243 yards passing in Kentucky’s win over Ole Miss were a career high.

Red zone matchup

Texas had another sluggish game on offense in last week’s win at Arkansas and now faces a Kentucky defense that rates among the best in the country when backed up near its own goal line. The Wildcats rank sixth nationally and best in the SEC in red zone defense.

Terrific tight end

For all of its speed on the edges in the passing attack, it is Texas tight end Gunnar Helm who has been the most reliable receiver from game to game. His 37 catches for a 493 yards lead the team in both categories and he has three touchdowns.

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