Students and community members are still recovering from the fire in Steiner Ranch this past Labor Day weekend.
“I see stuff like this all the time on TV, but I never thought it would happen to me,” junior Brandon Downer, Steiner Ranch Plateau subdivision resident, said. “It was truly a scary and stressful situation.”
3,000 residents of the neighborhood were evacuated late Sunday afternoon after flames shot up near the John Simpson area around 4 PM Sunday. News of the fire spread through social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter.
“If your [sic] in Steiner get out,” junior Weston Lawrence informed friends via Facebook.
Many sought information through social media sites as well.
“Anyone know where the burned houses are in Steiner?” senior Sophia Grossman asked via Facebook.
Yet many people wrote words of encouragement and hope.
”45% contained. Come on fire fighters you can do this,” junior Brittany Crowdus said via Facebook.
In total 125 acres were destroyed, 24 homes were burned to the ground, and another 30 damaged.
“Our family was very lucky; about 100 yards behind our house in the greenbelt was nothing but burnt trees and such,” junior Drew Pickens, who lives in the Steiner Ranch Plateau subdivision, said. “Only by the grace of God our house was fine.”
Firefighters and law enforcement worked for over two days to keep the flames under control. Firefighters from other cities also came to the scene, managing to save at least 300 homes.
The community came together to help in the ways they were able. Local churches and schools worked as evacuation sites to house and feed evacuees. Many students and families were quick to offer up their homes and donate food, water and other items to evacuees.
“We had the Nowak and Craig families stay with us. Mr. Craig is a firefighter so he fought all the fires as the rest of the family stayed with us. It was really packed but it was cool to have my friends stay over and help out my friends in need at the same time,” senior Rainer Swan said.
With over 24 families left without a home and many more left with damaged homes and property, the community will continue to do what they can. Cleaning supplies and food are offered at Town Square in Steiner Ranch, as well as Austin Christian Fellowship.
Although there are no open flames at this time, fire fighters have warned residents to be prepared for flames to flair back up. But until then residents are thankful for what they have.
“I felt very relieved because my house was very near to the flames,” junior David Goodman, Steiner Ranch Plateau subdivision resident, said. “It felt very good walking back into my house. Seeing that everything was fine, and there was no major damage to my home.”
