Roadside blaze rapidly contained

BASTROP — A grass fire along Texas 71 near Green Acres Loop is quickly brought under control Tuesday, May 20, thanks to the combined efforts of Bastrop Fire Department, Smithville Volunteer Fire Department and Heart of the Pines Volunteer Fire Department. The blaze, reported by a passerby, was contained in part due to a nearby waterline—a dirt road from a previous conflagration—that helped limit its spread, officials said. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. As National Wildfire Awareness Month comes to a close amid recent heat advisories, officials urge residents to reduce fire risks by clearing brush, creating defensible space and avoiding outdoor ignition sources. Photo by Sarah Walker