Fredericksburg, Texas – The Fredericksburg Fire/EMS Department in conjunction with crews from across the county, region and state are still working to contain the Nebo Mountain Fire as of Wednesday morning.
As of its latest update, the Texas A&M Forest Service reports the fire has impacted an estimated 1,160 acres and is 40% contained, which is an increase of 660 acres and 15 percent from 10 p.m. on Tuesday. The fire remains primarily situated between Exxon Road and Legion Creek Road in the northern part of Gillespie County.
Overnight, ground crews did large back burn operations, monitored containment lines and targeted hotspots. They reported no fire spread outside containment lines.
The Texas A&M Forest Service anticipates air attack and airdrop operations to resume Wednesday, depending on statewide resource prioritization. There are currently an estimated 100 personnel on the ground with 60 Texas A&M Forest Service crew members and 40 county personnel.
Weather & Fire Conditions
Forecasted temperatures in Gillespie County will reach the 80s to low 90s, with west/southwest winds of 10–15 mph and gusts up to 30 mph, creating challenging fire behavior potential.
An elevated fire weather risk and high fire danger are already in effect due to incoming dry air and increasing wind speeds.
Overnight humidity will not recover as it did on Tuesday evening, meaning adverse fire conditions will persist into Thursday.
A dry cold front arriving Thursday will shift winds to the north and further increase fire danger, with no precipitation expected.
Fire Information
The incident began at approximately 2:17 PM on Tuesday, Feb. 24 near 662 Exxon Road, about 16 miles north of Fredericksburg along State Highway 16 and five miles northwest of Willow City.
Gillespie County Judge Daniel Jones has issued a declaration of disaster, authorizing necessary emergency actions including evacuations, road closures and controlled access.
Despite the size of the fire, at this time there have been no reported evacuations ordered and Highway 16 remains open. Local impacts are currently limited to the immediate area along Exxon Road and Hohmann Road.
Local law enforcement continues to communicate with nearby residents and support ground operations. Community members in the vicinity are urged to avoid the area. People in the area should remain alert to instructions from emergency personnel and be prepared to evacuate should conditions change.
The Fredericksburg Fire/EMS Facebook page will be updated as information becomes available.
To view more information on this fire, visit https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/txtxs-nebo-mountain.
To learn more about the City of Fredericksburg Fire/EMS, go to FBGTX.org or contact City Hall at (830) 997-7521.
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