BASTROP COUNTY, Texas -- Bastrop County residents are taking a look back at a deadly fire that killed four people and displaced county residents.
- Bastrop Fires occurred 8 years ago
- Destroyed more than 1,500 homes
- Caused $325 million in damage
Fernando Deleon said you couldn’t see his home from the street behind all the pine trees surrounding his home. He and his wife lived in the forest as foster parents to more than 20 animals.
When the fire started, the couple only had 15 minutes to grab as many animals and belongings as they could.
“We had a lot of foster cats with us, a couple foster dogs. We got as many of them out as we could,” said Deleon.
Deleon carried out 19 cats and cat carriers as they just made it out of what would turn into a massive wildfire. More than a week later, the couple returned to find their home destroyed.
“There was only about a piece of wood about [a foot] long that was left of the whole house. Everything else was just burned,” said Deleon.
Since the fire, the Deleon family has rebuilt in the same spot as before, minus dozens of trees. They’ve begun to rebuild trees near their home, but only trees short enough to be considered safe.
The tall trees that could fall on top of their home are planted a safe distance away.
“All the saplings are transplanted in, we’re not letting any tall growth trees get close to the house,” Deleon said.
Bastrop County has done its part since the fires to make sure everyone stays safe. The county added a new water line and fire hydrants to the Deleon’s neighborhood to help with response to similar events.
They also started the Wildfire Mitigation Program, a county wide initiative that identifies areas in Bastrop in need of clearing to prevent future wildfires.