A Starflight helicopter (Travis County Air Operations Division) battles the Post Road fire on Sept. 24. PHOTO By SEAN BATURA

UPDATE 7:50 p.m. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
The Post Road Complex Fire has been 100 percent contained, said South Hays Fire Department Chief David Smith this afternoon.

“Incident has been terminated,” Smith said.

UPDATE 3:36 p.m. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

The Post Road Complex Fire was 95 percent contained as of the fire department’s last report.

South Hays Fire Department Chief David Smith said crews are “mopping up.”

“Fire crews over night reported one flare up, but the overall fire remains in a state of decline,” Smith said.

Residents near Hilliard, Lime Kiln, and Post Roads area should expect to smell smoke, Smith said.

UPDATE 5:43 p.m. SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

The Post Road Complex Fire is 90 percent contained and no evacuations are anticipated, authorities say.

Fire crews from various jurisdictions continue to work on-scene and will monitor the fire throughout the night, said South Hays Fire Department Chief David Smith. Swift winds and low relative humidity have posed no significant impediments to firefighting efforts, Smith said.

Smith asks residents near the fire to expect smoke and refrain from calling 911 unless they see flames.

The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for most of the area this evening.

STAFF REPORT

High winds and waning humidity have extended the life of a fire that began yesterday within a half-mile west of Post Road and the San Marcos-Blanco Cemetery.

The fire is 70 percent contained and no evacuations have been ordered, according to the South Hays Fire Department. San Marcos Fire Marshal Ken Bell, who is among the fire fighting force of about 55 people, said it may be a few days before the area is free from danger.

“Basically what’s happening is some trees just burst into flames and we basically have to go in and suppress those so they don’t jump out of our containment area,” Bell said.

Much of the fire retardant dropped by a DC-10 and C-130 yesterday went a long way towards helping contain the fire within an approximately 25-acre area of “burn-out,” Bell said. He said the burn-out area is surrounded by bulldozer lines, though there is persistent danger from wind gusts and trees falling over the lines and being ignited.

“We have spot fires that they’ll try to control throughout the day and throughout the evening,” Bell said. “But right now we’re in what’s called a ‘red flag’ situation, where the humidity is dropping, the winds are gusting.”

Bell said wind gusts have a tendency to re-ignite a spot fire within 15 minutes of its suppression.

“We have got a lot of people working today — in fact, I’m looking at about six brush trucks heading out on a task force unit, and then we’ve got about 30 guys from the Forest Service here helping on the north side of the fire,” Bell said.

The fire burned about 25 acres and threatened 50 homes and livestock, authorities said today. The crews fighting the fire include personnel from the South Hays, San Marcos, Kyle, Wimberley, Maxwell and Martindale Fire Departments, and Hays County Task Force 2.

Residents near Hilliard, Lime Kiln, and Post Roads should expect to see smoke during the day and throughout the night on Sunday, officials said. Authorities have asked residents to call 911 only if they see flames.