The Bastrop Fire of 2011

The ancient Lost Pines area of Bastrop County experienced a huge fire that was out of control for nearly two weeks in 2011. This area of the state was in an extended drought and during this time high winds broke high voltage power lines at two points, resulting in the live wires dropping to the ground where sparks then ignited the underbrush. The fire of the underbrush got out of control and the flames reached the tops of the trees and ignited the foliage. For weeks after the blaze was finally extinguished, the fire was thought to be caused by careless acts, but an in-depth study showed that the fire was caused by the broken and downed powerlines sparking to ground.

The Lost Pines area is unique to central Texas because pines don't normally grow in this environment. East Texas yes, but central Texas no, except for this area of Loblolly Pines that thrive because of the soil. The soil is a red colored sandy soil mixed with red sandstone, all left over from when this area was on the beach when the Gulf of Mexico waters ran far inland.The Loblolly Pine is a magnificent tree, growing to great heights with a straight trunk. The bark is even but patched in a pattern as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1, Bark pattern of Loblolly Pine

This tree is very tall, straight and therefore good for lumber. When mature, the foliage is high in the tree and this allows the tree to withstand ground fires without being damaged or destroyed. But, when the ground litter gets excessive, the fire can reach the foliage in the upper structure of the tree and then its all lost---especially on this day when the wind was so high and the drought made the needles almost explosive in the combustibility.

The fire raged for two weeks and burned about a third of this ancient forest of pines. Below is an satellite view of the area of the forest with a superimposed area showing the burn pattern. The fire went out after essentially running out of trees to burn. Many homes were burned several people injured and two perished. Firefighters from other states helped control and finally extinguish the last of the ground fires after the fire in the treetops died out.

The fire was finally extinguished and then the recover work began. Efforts by local people and the Texas Forest Service will play a significant role in the recovery, as will the forces of nature. Already new growth is appearing with the new pine trees competing with new growth of oaks.

But it will be many years, maybe a hundred years, before this area even begins to appear as it did before the great fire of 2011.

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