Overview
- The Texas A&M Forest Service declared the fire 100% contained on Wednesday, Sept. 16, after 23 days of firefighting and a final mapped size of about 89,989 acres.
- Investigators concluded the blaze started along a roadside and was caused by vehicle or equipment use, though they could not identify the exact ignition source.
- Initial assessments put structures destroyed at roughly 150–167 and damaged structures in the hundreds, with officials continuing detailed accounting of losses to homes, ranch buildings and camp facilities.
- Officials said no civilians died and no serious civilian injuries were reported, while crews and volunteers focus on mop-up, tapping out internal hot spots and helping affected residents.
- The incident exposed strain on rural resources and response timing, prompting nearly $5 million in state aid to 118 volunteer departments and renewed concern that drought and high heat will keep wildfire risk elevated into late September and early October.