Crabapple Fire Burns Nearly 10,000 Acres in Texas

Saturday, March 15, a wildfire broke out in the early afternoon in Gillespie County, Texas. As of Tuesday afternoon, containment has reached 90%, but officials warn that elevated fire weather conditions, including strong winds and low humidity, continue to pose challenges.

It was named the Crabapple Fire after its place of origination, Lower Crabapple Road, and rapidly spread east across Highway 16 North due to high winds, with embers traveling up to a half mile and sparking additional fires. While firefighters have made significant progress, unpredictable winds reaching up to 43 mph remain a concern.

How the Fire Started

The Crabapple Fire began as a grass fire on March 15 at approximately 1 p.m. in the 8700 block of Lower Crabapple Road, about 10 miles north of downtown Fredericksburg. By 4:20 p.m., the fire had jumped across North State Highway 16, rapidly spreading due to strong winds and dry conditions.