A wildfire about 80 miles west of Austin led to hazy skies and the smell of smoke throughout the city on Saturday.
The Texas A&M Forest Service said 8,640-acre Crabapple Fire north of Fredericksburg started Saturday afternoon and is zero percent contained, as of 5:01 p.m.
The Austin Fire Department said it was receiving calls from people in the Austin area who are experiencing smoke that it believes is from the wildfire:
911 call takers are receiving multiple calls about smoke across Austin. We believe this smoke is being blown in from the 400 acre Crabapple Fire near Fredericksburg.
— Austin Fire Info (@AustinFireInfo) March 15, 2025
Due to gusty winds, low humidity, and dry vegetation, the National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag warning for all of Central Texas until 9 p.m. Saturday.
Under these dry and windy conditions, the NWS reminds people:
- Don’t burn anything outside.
- Don’t park vehicles on dry grass.
- Don’t discard cigarettes or other smoking materials outside.
This is a developing story.
