This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American
Quick update on the Bastrop, TX fires. According to local news outlets, the wildfires are 70 percent contained. Of the 34,000 acres burned by the wildfire, 6,400 acres were in Bastrop State Park.
In addition to the many homes lost or damaged by the fires, two historic Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) structures have been damaged. Many of the rustic cabins and other structures in the State Park were constructed during the Great Depression using cedar and pine from the surrounding forest.
And sadly, our friend the endangered Houston Toad is losing a lot of its habitat with the loss of the pine forest and ground cover.
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Texas Parks and Wildlife, the state parks agency, captured amazing footage of the fire racing across a part of Bastrop State Park.