Wildfire — Hidalgo, Texas

2009-01-19 · Hidalgo, Texas

Event narrative

A wild fire, started by unknown causes, destroyed four buildings at the Moore Air Force Base (a former operating facility during World War II currently used for aerial pest control operations) near Alton, TX, during the early afternoon of January 19th. Gusty winds, very low humidity, dry ground, and warm temperatures helped the fire grow explosively from its onset, eventually spreading into grassland and rangeland before jumping across Farm-to-Market (FM) 681 and threatening more than 100 residences in the area. More than 100 homes were evacuated. At least five fire departments responded to the fire, including those from Starr and Cameron County; public works crews also supported the effort.

Before containment and control, the fire spread to 2560 acres, and caused an estimated $10 million in damage at the air base.

Wider weather episode

A weak front brought dry air and gusty winds across the Rio Grande Valley during the afternoon of January 19th, 2009. Temperatures, aided by downsloping, northwest winds, rose into the mid and upper 80s, while humidity plummeted to between 10 and 15 percent. Accompanied by 20 foot northwest winds of 15 to 20 mph with gusts to 25 mph, the threat for rapid to explosive wild fire growth was realized at the Moorefield Air Base west of Edinburg.

The following day, relatively mild temperatures, humidity nearing 15 percent, and occasionally gusty north winds maintained a considerable threat for rapid growth of any wild fires, which was realized in eastern Starr County near Rincon.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 152703. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.