High winds from Tropical Storm Lee are helping to spread several fires that have forced numerous evacuations Sunday .
By mid-afternoon, fires were burning in Cedar Park, Pflugerville and Bastrop. Officials said the danger of fires will be present through the last holiday weekend of a one of the hottest and rain-starved summers in Texas history.
Officials with the Austin Fire Department issued a warning Sunday that said Central Texas is under an “EXTREME fire danger.”
Firefighters in Pflugerville are fighting a 20-acre brush fire which is not threatening homes at this time but very close to houses in the 600 block of Pfluger St. Officials have closed Dessau Road as a result of that fire. No word on the cause at this time.
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In Bastrop County at 4 p.m., mandatory evacuations were issued for residents of the Circle D County Acres, Pine View West and Lake Bastrop areas.
Portions of Tahitian Village, Colovista, Alan Creek, Bastrop State Park and homes along Harmon Road and Pine Hill were also under evacuation orders.
Crews with the Austin Fire Department were on standby in case a fire breaks.
“Austin fire has prepared, increasing our readiness level, staffing additional units and augmenting initial response," the department said.
Central Texas remains under a wind advisory for the counties of Bastrop, Caldwell, De Witt, Fayette, Gonzales, Lavaca, Lee, Travis, Williamson until 6 p.m.
