footballgal
02-04-2008, 02:10 PM
http://www.firelink.com/news/articles/1419-texas-governor-asks-for-federal-aid-for-wildfire-relief
http://www.firelink.com/nfs/firelink/attachment_images/0001/8483/wildfire_crop380w.jpg?1202105298
This grass fire broke out near Aledo, Texas, on Tuesday. (Donna McWilliam/AP)
My hometown was burning! :eek: :(
COTULLA, Texas – When volunteer firefighter Ignacio Reyes got home from a four-hour battle with a grass fire, he found a horrifying sight: The home he shares with his paralyzed older brother had burned to the ground.
“It was just smoke,” Mr. Reyes, a 40-year-old high school custodian, said Saturday. “I just panicked and wondered what happened to my brother. Thank God, a neighbor came out and pulled him out.”
Because of the dozens of fires around the state, Gov. Rick Perry requested federal aid Saturday. In a letter to President Bush, Mr. Perry identified 184 Texas counties threatened or impacted by wildfires this week in asking for a presidential disaster declaration for the entire state.
The governor’s office said Saturday that 75 wildfires have destroyed 60 homes and structures and burned at least 70,000 acres. More than half the counties in the state have been under recent burn bans.
Mr. Perry also added 31 counties to his state disaster proclamation issued earlier this week. A presidential disaster declaration would make the state eligible for federal aid.
“As wildfires continue to rage across our state, Texas is reaching its capacity to respond to these emergencies and is in need of federal assistance,” Mr. Perry said in the letter.
Among the hardest-hit counties is LaSalle, where Cotulla is the county seat.
Mr. Reyes’ home was one of seven lost in the 19,000-acre fire that was still burning Saturday in this town about 90 miles southwest of San Antonio. Another 15 homes had minor damage and 150 had heavy smoke damage, according to local emergency officials. There were no deaths or injuries reported Saturday.
The fire, which destroyed the homes Thursday, was about 70 percent contained by Saturday night, said Texas Forest Service spokeswoman Sandra Taylor.
Wildfires are common enough in this part of South Texas, but Mr. Reyes said this one is far from common.
“This is the biggest one we’ve seen,” he said. “And I’ve been here most my life.”
http://www.firelink.com/nfs/firelink/attachment_images/0001/8483/wildfire_crop380w.jpg?1202105298
This grass fire broke out near Aledo, Texas, on Tuesday. (Donna McWilliam/AP)
My hometown was burning! :eek: :(
COTULLA, Texas – When volunteer firefighter Ignacio Reyes got home from a four-hour battle with a grass fire, he found a horrifying sight: The home he shares with his paralyzed older brother had burned to the ground.
“It was just smoke,” Mr. Reyes, a 40-year-old high school custodian, said Saturday. “I just panicked and wondered what happened to my brother. Thank God, a neighbor came out and pulled him out.”
Because of the dozens of fires around the state, Gov. Rick Perry requested federal aid Saturday. In a letter to President Bush, Mr. Perry identified 184 Texas counties threatened or impacted by wildfires this week in asking for a presidential disaster declaration for the entire state.
The governor’s office said Saturday that 75 wildfires have destroyed 60 homes and structures and burned at least 70,000 acres. More than half the counties in the state have been under recent burn bans.
Mr. Perry also added 31 counties to his state disaster proclamation issued earlier this week. A presidential disaster declaration would make the state eligible for federal aid.
“As wildfires continue to rage across our state, Texas is reaching its capacity to respond to these emergencies and is in need of federal assistance,” Mr. Perry said in the letter.
Among the hardest-hit counties is LaSalle, where Cotulla is the county seat.
Mr. Reyes’ home was one of seven lost in the 19,000-acre fire that was still burning Saturday in this town about 90 miles southwest of San Antonio. Another 15 homes had minor damage and 150 had heavy smoke damage, according to local emergency officials. There were no deaths or injuries reported Saturday.
The fire, which destroyed the homes Thursday, was about 70 percent contained by Saturday night, said Texas Forest Service spokeswoman Sandra Taylor.
Wildfires are common enough in this part of South Texas, but Mr. Reyes said this one is far from common.
“This is the biggest one we’ve seen,” he said. “And I’ve been here most my life.”