17-03-2025
Shelter open, donations being accepted for those affected by wildfire near Fredericksburg
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Crabapple Fire near Fredericksburg has burned more than 9,700 acres as of Monday morning. The disaster prompted evacuations for many in the area, and affected local ranchers and livestock, according to the city of Fredericksburg. Here are ways you can help support them.
Firefighter injured in 9,700+ acre wildfire near Fredericksburg
The fire started around 1 p.m. Saturday in the 8700 block of Crabapple Road, which is 11 miles north of Fredericksburg, according to the city. As of Monday, the fire was 9,737 acres and 65% contained, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.
According to the city, it wasn't immediately clear how many people were evacuated or displaced.
In a Facebook post, The Gillespie County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension shared the livestock supply point location they created to help facilitate donations for fire relief. The supply point is located at the Gillespie County Fairgrounds off 530 Fair Drive.
Donations of hay, feed, and fencing supplies for cattle, sheep, and goats are most needed, the post said. The supplies can be dropped off at the fairgrounds which will be open between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.
The AgriLife Extension team has teamed up with local donation partners to help make the process simple, if you purchase supplies from the following locations, they will make sure your donations are sent directly to the livestock supply point.
Behrends Feed & Fertilizer
Lochte Feed & General Store
Allied Ag Service Inc
Kerrville Ranch & Pet Center
Gillespie County is receiving support from OneStar Foundation's Rebuild Texas fund to establish the Crabapple Disaster Fund.
Donations to this fund will provide those affected with 'emergency aid, essential supplies, long-term recovery assistance to help families rebuild their homes, restore their land, and restart their businesses,' the OneStar relief fund said. The city said this is the best way to help.
Additionally friends, family, and neighbors have teamed up to help each other recover from this devastating fire. Resident Matt Durrette said in a Facebook post, 'We love this town. Fredericksburg has always been a strong community, but right now, it needs us.'
Durrette and other local community members hope to raise $10,000 that would help with rebuilding homes, help farmers and ranchers recover from any loss, and provide resources to first responders and food, water, and basic supplies for all affected. Donations can be made to the community GoFundMe.
The Zion Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg remained open as a shelter and served five people at last check, the city said.
On Sunday, KXAN reported at least seven people sought temporary shelter at the church. Among those in the church were a mother and four children aged 8-15 and two tourists who were on vacation from France, according to the Red Cross.
'At lunch time [Saturday] we heard about the fire and that all the roads were closed and that we couldn't go back to our cabins because it was very close to the fire,' said Marie Dominique Defondaumiere. 'And then we heard about the shelter because we had confirmation that we couldn't go back to the cabins. So, we found the shelter and we had no place to go. And we found a very, very nice welcome for the people from the Red Cross and the pastor.'
Elisabeth Petrus said her heart medication was in her suitcase that she couldn't get to. She said she planned to reach out to a doctor after she and Defondaumiere evacuated. They both hoped to return to rental homes and suitcases 'not up in ashes.'
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