Declare a state of disaster in Texas Forest fire

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott today declared a state of disaster for the central Bastrop County, where in the last two days the fires have destroyed around 700 thousand hectares and forced the evacuation of about 400 homes.

Abbott said that in addition have increased resources to fight the fire, which began Tuesday morning in the small community of Smithville, about Buescher State Park, about 70 kilometers east of Austin.

"So far we have been very lucky with this fire, because no one has died. We want to be able to say the same once we're done with this fire," Abbott said after a briefing on the emergency.

The governor said the Texas National Guard sent two Black Hawk helicopters and two Chinook type to add them to fight the fire.

Abbott said he was "very, very grateful" that the Federal Administration for Emergency Management (FEMA) quickly approved a request for assistance grants to fight the fire in Texas.

The Office of the Bastrop County Sheriff said that some 400 homes have been evacuated in Bastrop County, although some residents have been able to return to their homes.

The flames forced on Wednesday Parks and Wildlife Texas to close the Buescher State Park and the campus of the MD Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas, located within the park.

The fire was until the morning of Thursday content of 15 percent, however, the forecast is that the next 24 hours will be favorable for the spread of the flames due to the winds and temperatures up to 32 degrees Celsius.

Bastrop County was the scene of the worst fire in the history of Texas, recorded in 2011, when more than 12,000 hectares were destroyed by fire and more than 200 thousand homes were destroyed.