Latest wildfire information

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Officials from Bastrop said the fire is 80 percent contained as of Friday.

As county assessment crews get into the burned areas they are verifying houses burned; no homes have burned since Sept. 7. An estimated 34,000 acres and more than 1,500 structures have burned.

Bastrop officials on Monday said that the list of unaccounted-for people now stands at two. Unaccounted for are Arlene Paige and Steve Ingram.

Classes reopened Monday in Bastrop and Smithville.

Meanwhile, the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Sunday urged those who sustained property damage as a result of the fires to register for disaster assistance. Applicants may also call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. FEMA will be setting up a permanent site on Tuesday in Bastrop.

The deadline for businesses that were destroyed to register is Nov. 8.

Officials also updated the number of destroyed homes in Bastrop to 1,554. The number is sure to increase, they added.

The Alamo Area Wildland Strike Team will return from its deployment in Bastrop County on Monday. The team will demobilize at New Braunfels Fire Station #1. The team consisted of resources from the following departments: Canyon Lake, Spring Branch, San Antonio, New Braunfels, and Schertz.

They initially deployed to Bastrop on Sept. 5, and have been assigned to night operations for the duration of their deployment. The team worked fire control and structure protection during their time there.

Re-entry caution

Officials said Tuesday that parents need to be careful about taking children back into the re-entry zones. The ash and chemicals can cause long-term problems for children. There are child care organizations that will watch children as parents go back in.

Boil Water Notice -- update Sept 13

Aqua Water Supply Corporation lifted the notice for Zone 4, after tests on samples passed. However, the notice remains in effect for all of Zone 5 and a very small portion of Zone 4. Click here to view the Boil Water Map.

Debris removal

There are dumpsters in the area Tuesday for people to dispose of perishable goods. They are identifying potential sites along with FEMA on where to handle the debris. Residents should contact local reputable contractors for debris removal. If anyone is going to clear debris from property in Tahitian Village, they have to have a permit before they start clearing. This is due to concerns for the water and sewer systems.

Bastrop schools reopened Monday. Here are bus routes and schedules.

Best Western

• Elementary Pick up time 6:40 AM Bus 304
• BIS & BMS Pick up time 7:45 AM Bus 123
• BHS Pick up time 7:25 AM Bus 340

Holiday Inn

• Elementary Pick up time 6:35 AM Bus 340
• BIS & BMS Pick up time 7:15 AM Bus 101
• BHS Pick up time 8:10 AM Bus 340

Super 8

• Elementary Pick up time 6:35 AM Bus 340
• BIS & BMS Pick up time 7:15 AM Bus 101
• BHS Pick up time 8:10 AM Bus 340

Hyatt Lost Pines

• Elementary Pick up time 8:15 AM Bus 326
• BIS & BMS Pick up time 8:15 AM Bus 326
• BHS Pick up time 8:15 AM Bus 326

 

As of Monday morning, the Bastrop fire was 60 percent contained . They also said identified 58-year-old Vickie Faye Keenan as the second person who died in the fires. The other person was Michael Troy Farr, a resident who worked for the city of Austin.

Later Saturday, Gov. Rick Perry failed to show up at a news briefing in Bastrop that his office helped set up. The governor's staff blamed the no-show on a logistical problem.

Gov. Rick Perry late Friday announced that up to $250,000 from the Texas Disaster Relief Fund will be distributed through Combined Community Action Inc. to provide seven-day emergency hotel vouchers for individuals and families whose homes have been destroyed in the Bastrop County fire.

Bastrop evacuation centers: 

• Ascension Catholic Church, 802 Pine St., Bastrop -- 512-321-2452
• Celebration Community Church, 107 Longhorn St., Bastrop -- 512-332-2537
• Smithville Recreation Center, 106 Gazley St., Smithville-- 512-237-3282
   

More information is on Bastrop County's website.

The Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative, which provides power for Bastrop County and surrounding areas, has posted a map on its website showing the status of power outages caused by the fire.

A ‘ Boil Water Notice ’ remains in effect for virtually all of Bastrop County south of U.S. Highway 290, except for the cities of Bastrop, Elgin and Smithville. Tests are being done to check for bacteria. On Monday, officials said the water can be used for washing, but not cooking or drinking until residents are notified. Tests are expected to be complete Tuesday and Wednesday.

Residents of Steiner Ranch were permitted back into the neighborhood on Wednesday. Officials said the fire was 75 percent contained .

All tolled, 24 homes were destroyed and 30 others damaged. Officials have been quick to point out that some 300 homes were saved.