Marissa Wagner

Wildfires across Texas have kept San Marcos firefighters quite busy. Marissa Wagner has this Bobcat Update.

The San Marcos Fire Department has been working non-stop since Labor Day weekend, offering assistance to control wildfires in the region and aiding families who have been affected by the fires.
The fire department has sent firemen and supplies to Wimberley, Dripping Springs, Travis County and Caldwell County during the past week alone.
Fire Battalion Chief Jeff Clark says the fire department expects more of the same in the coming weeks.
CLARK ( :__ __ seconds)
"We're getting ready you know, because I think this, unfortunately, is going to be the start, until we get some rain, of a busy, busy fire season."
The fire department and other San Marcos organizations have been collecting donations for families in Bastrop who lost homes in the fire.
The generosity of San Marcos residents has led the city to look for a place to store the donations until they're distributed.
In assisting others, the local fire department has logged more than 120 overtime hours -- all of which must be paid up front by the city -- BUT, in time, the funds will be reimbursed. Texas has been declared a disaster area and will receive federal funds to cover the costs of battling the wildfires.
CLARK ( : __ __)
"Just costs of feeding people when they're up there and trying to get people rest; there's costs associated with it and down the road it will be recoverable. But right now, it's going to be a little bit of a burden on the city."
San Marcos has been fortunate, so far, to avoid any large fires, but some small fires have been reported. Clark says residents need to take precautions.
CLARK (  :__ __)"The wind hasn't been blowing, the humidity has been high, but everybody's just going to have to be careful, because it's the same here as it is everywhere, and it takes just one wrong move."
With daily highs in the 90s and 100s, wildfires are still possible. Even the smallest actions, from lighting a match for a grill to discarding a lit cigarette in an open area, can start a big fire.
For Bobcat Update, I'm Marissa Wagner.