famous international firefighter Fred Wiegand,
formerly with Boots and Coots, friend with Neal Adams and Red Adair.
Barth Fire covering 70 acres inside
the city limits of North Lockhart, Texas 78644 USA
17 August 2023 Thursday
The grass fire spread very quickly from 11 am to 5 pm, when the brave firefighters
of the Lockhart Fire Department brought the fire under control.
The fire spread from the American Legion Hall on Hwy 183, north along the west side of 183, with the winds
from the South, up to Interstate Toll Road I 130, and west to Silent Valley Road back down to
Pettus Street. If the winds had blown from the North, like they blew the day before, the fire would
have been much worse, maybe reaching downtown Lockhart. No word has appeared in public notices yet as to
the value of damages, the homes burned, nor the deaths from the dense black smoke and the heat from the flames.
Right now, there is a daily dangerous heat warning in central Texas, with temperatures up to 107 degress F around 5
pm daily. There is a county burn ban at this time, until it rains.
THANKS BE TO GOD that the winds were from the South that day. Otherwise,
the fire would have burned into downtown Lockhart, endangering the historic Caldwell County
Courthouse.
The
Lockhart Fire Department, and the Sheriff's Department, did a brave, wonderful job of controlling
the Barth Fire in the city limits of Lockhart, TX 78644. It is probable that public notices will be restricted,
but if anyone wants and deserves more information, contact
Fred Wiegand, Volunteer and International Firefighter
512 995 1400 USA
Lockhart
claims to be the BBQ capital of the USA.
Donations
to the Lockhart Fire Department for gas and smoke masks are happily accepted.
