More resources are being dispatched to the brush fire in Leander.
The wildfire broke out near the Gran Mesa neighborhood on Osage Drive and Lakeline, threatening homes there. Overnight firefighters worked to contain the blaze. As of 4:45 p.m. Friday it is considered 100 percent contained.
Strong winds blowing through the area on Friday are threatening another flare up. Overnight, the winds sparked several small flare ups. Firefighters who remained in the area knocked them down quickly.
By late Friday morning, more resources were dispatched. In all, 18 agencies are involved including a brush truck task force out of Fredericksburg with the Texas Forest Service. Additional resources such as helicopters are on standby. Bulldozers remain in the area to clear out piles of dead tree limbs and shrubs that line the fire zone.
The fire started around 12:30 Thursday afternoon. It sparked in a section of the Gran Mesa neighborhood that is still under construction. Within hours, the flames blew across 60 acres of dead brush, inching close to homes.
It threatened 800 homes. Firefighters evacuated 100 of the homes. They called in extra support. Two dozen agencies responded including three helicopters to drop water onto the fire from above. Once crews controlled the spread of the fire, they allowed residents back home.
"We feel relieved that our house didn't catch on fire," said twin sisters. "We feel better because we like this neighborhood, and it would be a shame if it burned down."
Firefighters say one firefighter was injured when debris fell into his eye. The crews managed to keep the fire from all structures.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
