Above: 3D map of the McDannald Fire showing the approximate perimeter at 4:23 a.m. CDT May 2, 2018.
(Originally published at 10:55 a.m. CDT May 2, 2018)
The McDannald Fire 13 miles west of Fort Davis, Texas was very active Tuesday and early Wednesday morning. Pushed by 10 to 20 mph winds out of the south and southwest it spread to within a mile west of Tomahawk Trail on the east side of the fire.
Our very unofficial estimate based on heat detections Wednesday morning by a satellite put it at about 18,000 acres. Most if not all of the fire is north of Highway 166.
Officials estimate that 400 homes are threatened. Evacuations are ongoing in the Davis Mountain Resort community.
The area is under a Red Flag Warning Wednesday for strong southwest winds of 16 to 30 mph gusting above 40 mph along with relative humidity in the mid-teens. These conditions could be conducive to the fire continuing to spread to the northeast toward Davis Mountain Resort. The McDonald Observatory is 8 miles northeast of the fire.
The Texas Forest Service reports that lightning started the fire on Monday. A Type 1 Incident Management Team with Incident Commander Mike Dueitt is mobilizing.
