[KE5NWT]

Well the Red Flag Warnings were on the mark. Yesterday while winds were gusting to 50 MPH at times, two major wildland fires broke out in nearby counties, and several smaller fires. LaSalle County burned 15,000 acres and parts of the town of Cotulla where 37 structures were damaged and 10 structures were lost. Cotulla's population is only a few thousand. Winds were intense enought to cause the fire to jump over Interstate 35. Dimmitt County had a fire of about 10,000 acres in isolated ranch land caused by a blown down power pole. That fire traveled more than 10 miles and jumped several two-lane roads.

Winds across this part of Texas subsided last night so the fire danger is lower. Speaking of lower, our overnight temp. was 17.6º F last night.

Amateur radio / ARES was not activated for the fires because normal radio communications were able to handle the traffic.