A lone tree in the burned area of the Rock House fire in Texas. Texas Forest Service
The Rock House fire in southwest Texas has burned 204,565 acres as well as 40 homes. Along with the destruction, it has created some opportunities for some skilled photographers to capture some compelling images on celluloid memory cards. These photos appeared on InciWeb, where you can also find more detailed information and maps of the fire.
Profile of a firefighter with a line of fire behind him. Texas Forest Service
A Hot Shot crew on the Rock House fire. Texas Forest Service
The Rock House Fire flames contrast with a starry night. The McDonald Observatory stands guard in the foreground. Photo: Frank Cianciola
After working full time in wildland fire for 33 years, he continues to learn, and strives to be a Student of Fire.
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14 thoughts on “Photos of the Rock House fire in Texas”
I am seeing these comments all too late in the game, but I felt the need to comment. I live in Fort Davis and watched this fire rip through our small town very quickly. Being evacuated 3 times from different homes and not being able to contact families (cell phones were down as well as internet, water, electricity). By the time we could even get enough help out here, the fire was far too large. The winds out here can be dangerous. Crews were working with gusts anywhere from 50 to 80mph and aircraft was impossible. We couldn’t even get machinery for almost a week into the fire, so we had to depend on the crews on foot. I am thankful for every single firefighter and individuals who came out to our little town to help all that needed it. It was the most terrifying month of my life. I never want to experience or see what I saw ever again in my life. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR YOUR HELP!
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From an Australian FireFighter prespective I can see why from the pic. of “Hotshots” or whatever why the US cremates FF on a regular basis.
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Come up here mate and lern how to fight fire our way. As i recall i was down under in 2008 2009 and my crew stoped fires burning in a mader of hours when yall had weeks to get them out. Give me a shout and i will each you a few things mate.
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Air tankers would not even work in 50 mph. Have had it way less mph than that and you would just have to let it run until the weather would change. You can’t stop that kind of fire storm.:-/
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Too fast for the Helo too. A dozer/plow unit would be 20 times faster and more effecient than hot shot’s on the terrain that I have seen. Just going by what I’ve seen. 🙂
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I was just on the rock house fire on a FS hotshot crew in Madera canyon. there is no way to get dozers in that area. Retardant lines were drying out and the fire burned right through them. We had 60 mph wind gusts last tuesday which was blowing over 2 blade wide dozer lines. fuels are so dry there any thing that crosses takes off in the wind. not a traditional tx fire to say the least.
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Well Said. Worked with yall On the Rock House Fire Great Job. yall kicked ass.
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I’m kind of chuckling @ Ranger25…my first thought (coming from an area dozers and plows are very rarely taken out of their barns) is why are they using hot shots crews…were are the engines?
Ryan’s answer was good enough for me — I assume the lots of steep drop-offs and tough terrain also preclude just driving up with apparatus and directly applying water as is often done with grass / prairie fires.
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the photos that Ranger25 sees were taken the first night and second day. The fire was moving at over 50 mph – too fast for heavy equipment to be of any use. It raced our truck as we evacuated. And Ryan is correct. This is some of the roughest country God ever made. But you don’t have pretty pictures of those areas. Crews were used wherever they were useful – and today the fire still burns north of us in a canyon that can only be reached by helicopter.
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@ ranger 25 and alamito.
Dozers and aircraft had and countie to be affective were it is possible. Due to the winds and extremly low RH during the day and night. It has been a waste of time and money to use Aircraft. I am on a 2 day R&R right now and came off the Rock house fire. This counrty is not bad I have been in way worse up in CO, WA, and ID. Alamito head up to the Slamon breaks and comapre the 2. The fire area is West Texas Canyon Country. Not a lot of opion other then handcrews for fighting the Fire. A lack of Water to refill engines and water buckts makes hose lays not an opiton. Do some in depth research and then talk.
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i wish i was in TX to help.. i am from Va and have been trying to get out west fro a while..
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Why are they using hot shot crews? Don’t they have dozer/plow unit’s to cut fire breaks?
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Several areas of the fire that are still active would not be a good place for dozers and plows. Lots of steep drop offs, huge rocks with patchy fuels. This has been some tough terrain to work in.
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Well….Duh. I wasn’t talking about running the dozer’s down a steep mountain. Allot of the area’s I have seen by picture’s and video on youtube showed flat land with no dozer’s. I’m retired from forestry using dozer/plow units. I’m not stupid. 🙂 Saw allot of perfect areas with broom straw grass and shrubs. Now who’s laughing?
I am seeing these comments all too late in the game, but I felt the need to comment. I live in Fort Davis and watched this fire rip through our small town very quickly. Being evacuated 3 times from different homes and not being able to contact families (cell phones were down as well as internet, water, electricity). By the time we could even get enough help out here, the fire was far too large. The winds out here can be dangerous. Crews were working with gusts anywhere from 50 to 80mph and aircraft was impossible. We couldn’t even get machinery for almost a week into the fire, so we had to depend on the crews on foot. I am thankful for every single firefighter and individuals who came out to our little town to help all that needed it. It was the most terrifying month of my life. I never want to experience or see what I saw ever again in my life. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR YOUR HELP!
From an Australian FireFighter prespective I can see why from the pic. of “Hotshots” or whatever why the US cremates FF on a regular basis.
Come up here mate and lern how to fight fire our way. As i recall i was down under in 2008 2009 and my crew stoped fires burning in a mader of hours when yall had weeks to get them out. Give me a shout and i will each you a few things mate.
Air tankers would not even work in 50 mph. Have had it way less mph than that and you would just have to let it run until the weather would change. You can’t stop that kind of fire storm.:-/
Too fast for the Helo too. A dozer/plow unit would be 20 times faster and more effecient than hot shot’s on the terrain that I have seen. Just going by what I’ve seen. 🙂
I was just on the rock house fire on a FS hotshot crew in Madera canyon. there is no way to get dozers in that area. Retardant lines were drying out and the fire burned right through them. We had 60 mph wind gusts last tuesday which was blowing over 2 blade wide dozer lines. fuels are so dry there any thing that crosses takes off in the wind. not a traditional tx fire to say the least.
Well Said. Worked with yall On the Rock House Fire Great Job. yall kicked ass.
I’m kind of chuckling @ Ranger25…my first thought (coming from an area dozers and plows are very rarely taken out of their barns) is why are they using hot shots crews…were are the engines?
Ryan’s answer was good enough for me — I assume the lots of steep drop-offs and tough terrain also preclude just driving up with apparatus and directly applying water as is often done with grass / prairie fires.
the photos that Ranger25 sees were taken the first night and second day. The fire was moving at over 50 mph – too fast for heavy equipment to be of any use. It raced our truck as we evacuated. And Ryan is correct. This is some of the roughest country God ever made. But you don’t have pretty pictures of those areas. Crews were used wherever they were useful – and today the fire still burns north of us in a canyon that can only be reached by helicopter.
@ ranger 25 and alamito.
Dozers and aircraft had and countie to be affective were it is possible. Due to the winds and extremly low RH during the day and night. It has been a waste of time and money to use Aircraft. I am on a 2 day R&R right now and came off the Rock house fire. This counrty is not bad I have been in way worse up in CO, WA, and ID. Alamito head up to the Slamon breaks and comapre the 2. The fire area is West Texas Canyon Country. Not a lot of opion other then handcrews for fighting the Fire. A lack of Water to refill engines and water buckts makes hose lays not an opiton. Do some in depth research and then talk.
i wish i was in TX to help.. i am from Va and have been trying to get out west fro a while..
Why are they using hot shot crews? Don’t they have dozer/plow unit’s to cut fire breaks?
Several areas of the fire that are still active would not be a good place for dozers and plows. Lots of steep drop offs, huge rocks with patchy fuels. This has been some tough terrain to work in.
Well….Duh. I wasn’t talking about running the dozer’s down a steep mountain. Allot of the area’s I have seen by picture’s and video on youtube showed flat land with no dozer’s. I’m retired from forestry using dozer/plow units. I’m not stupid. 🙂 Saw allot of perfect areas with broom straw grass and shrubs. Now who’s laughing?