Significant grass fire north of Fredericksburg spreads to more than 8,000 acres.

 Significant grass fire north of Fredericksburg spreads to more than 8,000 acres.

Officials report that the fire is currently zero percent contained.

FREDERICKSBURG, Texas – Various fire departments, along with teams from the region, state, and across the nation, are actively fighting a large grass fire that is currently zero percent contained.

The blaze began around 1:45 p.m. on Saturday in the 8700 block of Lower Crabapple Road.

Officials reported that the fire is advancing east to southeast and is situated between Lower Crabapple and Farm-to-Market Road 1631.

“Fortunately, the wind has calmed down in the Texas Hill Country, and our crews are focused on halting the Crabapple Fire's forward movement,” said Fredericksburg Fire Chief Lynn Bizzell in a press release. “Our team will remain active throughout the night, including monitoring FM1631 to ensure the fire doesn’t spread.”

A spokesperson for the City of Fredericksburg announced that the following roads are currently closed: State Highway 16 North from the Fredericksburg city limits to Eckert Road, and Lower Crabapple from Eckert Road into Fredericksburg.

In the release, the City of Fredericksburg stated that Central Texas Electric has turned off power to the fire-affected area as a precaution.

Gillespie County Judge Daniel Jones has declared a disaster, enabling officials to evacuate residents, close roads, and manage ingress and egress as necessary, according to the city.

The Gillespie County Sheriff’s Office reported that smoke from the fire is visible in the surrounding area and potentially beyond.

The Fredericksburg Fire EMS advised that individuals located between Highway 16 North and FM 1631, as well as those between Ranch Road 1323 and Ranch Road 2721, should be ready for evacuation.

For those who have been displaced, a shelter is available at Zion Lutheran Church, located at 426 W Main St. in Fredericksburg.

Kiley Moran, a spokesperson for the Texas A&M Forest Service, informed KSAT that the wind is complicating efforts to manage the wildfire.

Moran stated that windy conditions are expected to persist over the next few days and urged the public to take precautions to prevent potential fire hazards. 

“Please avoid any activities that may generate heat or sparks to help prevent these wildfires,” Moran said. “As we've seen, they can escalate very quickly.”

Moran also mentioned that there are currently no reported injuries.

A spokesperson for the City of Fredericksburg has urged everyone to steer clear of the area.

Kendall County has deployed crews from Alamo Springs, Sisterdale, Boerne, and the Kendall County Emergency Management Office to combat the flames.

Additionally, the Boerne Fire Department is assisting the crews on-site.