Single Publication

Borrega Fire Update March 31, 2022 8:00 pm
 
Size: Estimated 46,000 acres
Containment:20%
Cause: Unknown
Personnel:56
 
Currently the Borrega Fire is estimated at 46,000 acres with 20% containment. Due to aircraft being able to fly the perimeter and get a more accurate estimate, the acreage did decrease from an estimated 60,000 to 46,000 acres. The fire started on March 30th around 4:30 pm. Request for assistance came in from Kleberg County for Texas A&M Forest Service fire resources with a fire located south of Kingsville and east of Premont. Texas A&M Forest Service fire personnel tied in with the local fire resources to assist with containment and suppression efforts throughout the night. Due to the weather being dry with gusty conditions, there were voluntary evacuations put in place by the County for the Ricardo and Riviera communities last night. Borrega Fire

Yesterday evening, Large Air Tankers assisted firefighters working on the ground to gain containment of the active fire around the perimeter. Crews successfully conducted firing operations on the east side of the fire to remove some of the finer fuels near the roads to help slow the spread and increase containment. Firing operations will continue today with support of air resources. Currently there are over 56 state and federal personnel assigned, including 4 bulldozers, 19 fire engines and 2 aircraft supporting the incident, including an air attack platform and SEATs. Blackhawk helicopters arrived and did bucket work. Texas A&M Forest Service is working in conjunction with Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS), and local fire departments from the county. Additional resources have been ordered and are on route including an additional TIFMAS strike team and additional aerial resources.

Weather:Northwest winds between 15 to 18 mph with gusts to 23 mph subsided to under 10 mph and shifted from the north last night. Around midnight, winds became weak and variable until the morning. Mixing heights around 7,500 ft quickly diminished to around 1,200 ft  by 10 pm last night. Transport winds gradually weakened and shifted to the north, then northeast throughout the night, subsiding to under 10 mph around midnight.
 
Evacuations and Road Closures: No evacuations or road closures at this time. 

Damages and Injuries:  None reported at this time.