By Charles McClure
news@ltview.com
On the very same street where residents gathered just one week earlier to watch a wild fire consume 45 acres on the Holmes Ranch, the Pedernales Fire Department waged war with a structure fire July 26. The house was described as “a total loss.”

The blaze erupted about in the middle of the afternoon, according to PFD’s Mary Christopher, and took three hours to contain, fueled by temperatures that reached nearly 112 degrees at the scene.

“The Pedernales Fire Department received a call for a fire near Bee Creek Road and Lakehurst,” Christopher said. “PFD Engine 802 arrived on scene and began fighting a house fire. PFD Engine 801 also responded along with a PFD brush truck and two tankers.”
The fire spread quickly and firefighters received assistance from Lake Travis Fire-Rescue, which dispatched two fire trucks and two tanker trucks. Firefighters were further assisted by the Oak Hill Fire Department, which sent out a fire truck to the scene, as well as one to PFD’s Station 2 to provide backup for the rest of the district. Christopher said Austin Travis County EMS Medic units provided medical back-up at the fire scene. The Austin Fire Department sent one engine and its special operations provided firefighters with water and ice, and also refilled air tanks.
Christopher said officers from Travis County Sheriffs Office and Travis County Parks managed traffic.
“Firefighters and volunteers from PFD worked side by side with firefighters from AFD, Lake Travis Fire-Rescue and Oak Hill Fire Department to control the fire in the house and prevent the fire from spreading into the surrounding brush and cedars,” Christopher said.
PFD Chief Ken Van Rens was the fire scene Incident Commander, working with John Cherry, acting Battalion Chief from AFD, in charge of Operations.
“When Austin Fire Department was cleared from the scene, Battalion Chief Preston Jacobi with Lake Travis Fire Rescue worked as Operations Chief,” Christopher said. “This fire was an excellent example of the professionalism and cooperation that is a common experience among Travis County firefighters and departments.”
Christopher said the fire was suppressed by 6 p.m., but the structure was already consumed. For firefighters, simply keeping the blaze from spreading to surrounding homes and acreage was a significant accomplishment, considering the conditions.
“PFD Engine Company 802 stayed at the fire scene overnight, making sure there were no flare-ups,” Christopher said. “Clean-up continued through Monday morning.”
As with last week’s wildfire, the Travis County Fire Marshall attributed the blaze to a downed power line near the house.