Posted: Tue, 8 Nov 2011 09:43 PM - 12,778 Readers

By: Taylor Short

Steiner Ranch residents and local fire and county officials plan to remove brush from the area Nov. 12 in order to prevent another blaze like the one that destroyed 23 homes during the Labor Day weekend.

The Steiner Ranch Wildfire Planning Group—which includes the Steiner Ranch Savannah Point Firewise Committee, the Steiner Ranch Homeowners Association, Travis County Natural Resources, Lake Travis Fire Rescue, Travis County Precinct 2 Commissioner Sarah Eckhardt's office and the City of Austin Water Utility–Wildland Conservation Division—will remove illegally dumped landscaping waste from the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve land.

Savannah Point residents initiated the project with hopes of inspiring similar events in other areas served by the Lake Travis Fire Rescue, or Travis County Emergency Service District No. 6. Travis County Natural Resources will provide a wood chipper and truck for removal. Lake Travis Fire Rescue will also handle communications, first-aid services and provide water for volunteers during the event.

Volunteers will meet at 212 Horseback Hollow in Austin and work from 9 a.m.–2 p.m. For more information, contact John Durham, asst. fire chief–fire prevention division, at 266-2533, ext. 2322.