A firefighter works to contain a blaze in this courtesy image from the State of Texas. Credit: Courtesy Photo / Texas Park and Wildlife

Gov. Greg Abbott amended Texas’ ongoing disaster declaration to include the Das Goat Wildfire in Medina County during a press conference Sunday in Austin. Since Friday, the wildfire west of San Antonio has scorched 1,092 acres and destroyed three homes.

More than 200 firefighters and 19 state agencies are currently involved or responding to the wildfire, which was first ignited by a car that caught fire on March 25, according to a the Governor’s Office. And although 50% of the fire was reportedly contained as of Monday morning, 37 homes still remain under threat.

Abbott’s disaster declaration over the weekend follows his decision to increase the Texas Division of Emergency Management readiness level due to the recent increase in wildfire activity and ongoing drought.

According to the National Integrated Drought Information System, around 96% of Bexar County is currently in a severe drought, and 10% is in an extreme drought. Bexar County also remains under a Red Flag Warning, meaning that the risk of additional wildfires sparking up is high and that residents should remain vigilant.

An evacuation center for those affected by the Medina wildfire has been set up at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Helotes.

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A firefighter works to contain a blaze in this courtesy image from the State of Texas. Credit: Courtesy Photo / Texas Park and Wildlife

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This article appears in Mar 23 – Apr 5, 2022.

Michael Karlis is a multimedia journalist at the San Antonio Current, whose coverage in print and on social media focuses on local and state politics. He is a graduate of American University in Washington,...