Nearly 70 homes destroyed in weeklong Central Texas wildfire
SMITHVILLE, Texas (AP) — Residents forced from their homes by a 7-square-mile Central Texas wildfire have been allowed to return to the evacuation zone — some to return to their homes, some to count their losses.
The Texas A&M Forest Service reported Tuesday that the blaze in Bastrop County was 80 percent contained after burning 68 homes and 77 non-residential structures since Oct. 13, when farm equipment accidentally ignited grass.
Forest Service spokesman Logan Scherschel says no injuries have been reported.
Buescher State Park remains closed through Friday due to the wildfire about 40 miles southeast of Austin.
The National Weather Service on Tuesday predicted a chance for showers all week in the Bastrop area.