TEXAS, USA — A Central Texas wildfire spanning more than 4,000 acres has been fully contained.
The Texas A&M Forest Service initially said Friday morning that the North Art Complex Fire was burning approximately 3,000 acres in Mason County, roughly 118 miles away from the Austin area. As of Sunday, the now-4,300-acre fire is fully contained.
Officials say the North Art Complex Fire was actually the result of multiple smaller fires that were started by lightning. The fires were grouped into a "complex" fire because of their proximity to each other.
Forest Service officials said initially, the fire was very active and some structures were threatened. However, no structures had been lost.
How the community is coming together to help
"I've been out here since this morning [Friday], but local firefighters, state agencies like Texas A&M Forest Services, landowners and fire departments from hours away have been fighting these flames since last night," Brandy Neece told KVUE.
Necee's husband is a Mason County volunteer firefighter, and she is part of a Ladies Auxiliary team, where volunteer firefighters' wives come together to support, feed and collect donations when fires happen.
She said she could hear the panic in the firefighters' voices Thursday night when they ran out. She said it looked like a sunset outside because the flames were so big and orange.
Neece said every time there's a fire, they are uncertain if their loved ones will come home – but they're grateful for all the help.
"We can't say enough about all the surrounding counties, the surrounding supporting agencies. Yeah, the entire state that's willing to just step up and step in and to do it so quickly," she said. "I mean, by last night, we already had dinner for them, we had somebody make them lunch today, we've already got plans for dinner this evening. It's a blessing. We're grateful to live where we do."
Mason County Texas AgriLife Extension posted a list of resources for ranchers and farmers impacted by the fire.
Pine Dump Fire in Bastrop County
A second, smaller fire was also burning across 10 acres in Bastrop County Friday morning. The Pine Dump Fire was 65% contained as of around 4:20 p.m. Friday. The cause of that fire is unknown.