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| Texas fires: Bastrop blaze prompts Rick Perry warning | Texas fires: Bastrop blaze prompts Rick Perry warning |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Firefighters in drought-stricken Texas are struggling to contain a 16-mile-wide (26-km) wildfire that has destroyed almost 500 homes. | Firefighters in drought-stricken Texas are struggling to contain a 16-mile-wide (26-km) wildfire that has destroyed almost 500 homes. |
| Officials said the fire had "grown considerably" on Monday and was now burning on 25,000 acres (10,000 ha). | Officials said the fire had "grown considerably" on Monday and was now burning on 25,000 acres (10,000 ha). |
| Texas Governor Rick Perry cut short presidential campaigning, and said the next 48 to 72 hours would be "crucial". | Texas Governor Rick Perry cut short presidential campaigning, and said the next 48 to 72 hours would be "crucial". |
| Scores of fires are burning across Texas, which has been hit by high winds generated by Tropical Storm Lee. | |
| Recent fires across Texas have burned 3.5 million acres, Mr Perry said, adding: "That's roughly the size of Connecticut." | Recent fires across Texas have burned 3.5 million acres, Mr Perry said, adding: "That's roughly the size of Connecticut." |
| He urged people to heed evacuation orders and not to stay in their homes if they had lost power. | He urged people to heed evacuation orders and not to stay in their homes if they had lost power. |
| "I understand that losing your home or lifetime possessions is incredibly difficult, but do not put your life in jeopardy," Mr Perry said. | "I understand that losing your home or lifetime possessions is incredibly difficult, but do not put your life in jeopardy," Mr Perry said. |
| A blaze in east Texas killed a 20-year-old woman and her baby daughter on Sunday before it was extinguished. | A blaze in east Texas killed a 20-year-old woman and her baby daughter on Sunday before it was extinguished. |
| Storm-fanned flames | Storm-fanned flames |
| An estimated 5,000 people have been forced to leave their homes because of the Bastrop fire, which is about 30 miles (50km) south-east of Austin and moving away from the state capital. | An estimated 5,000 people have been forced to leave their homes because of the Bastrop fire, which is about 30 miles (50km) south-east of Austin and moving away from the state capital. |
| Earlier, Jan Amen of the Texas Forest Service described the central Texas blaze as "a monster" that had been "zero percent contained". | Earlier, Jan Amen of the Texas Forest Service described the central Texas blaze as "a monster" that had been "zero percent contained". |
| The fire is the largest of dozens of wildfires burning throughout the state, including more than 60 that started on Sunday. | The fire is the largest of dozens of wildfires burning throughout the state, including more than 60 that started on Sunday. |
| Powerful winds from Tropical Storm Lee, hundreds of miles to the east, have fanned the flames. | Powerful winds from Tropical Storm Lee, hundreds of miles to the east, have fanned the flames. |
| "We have about 16 miles long at this time and about six miles wide," Bastrop County Fire Chief Ronnie McDonald said, referring to the size of the biggest blaze. | "We have about 16 miles long at this time and about six miles wide," Bastrop County Fire Chief Ronnie McDonald said, referring to the size of the biggest blaze. |
| It has devoured almost half of the Bastrop State Park. | It has devoured almost half of the Bastrop State Park. |
| Gov Perry said in a statement: "I urge Texans to take extreme caution as we continue to see the devastating effects of sweeping wildfires impacting both rural and urban areas of the state." | Gov Perry said in a statement: "I urge Texans to take extreme caution as we continue to see the devastating effects of sweeping wildfires impacting both rural and urban areas of the state." |
| He has cancelled an appearance at the presidential forum in South Carolina and a trip to California. | He has cancelled an appearance at the presidential forum in South Carolina and a trip to California. |
| Texas has been suffering its worst drought since the 1950s. | Texas has been suffering its worst drought since the 1950s. |
| Are you in the area? Have you been affected by the wildfire? Have you been forced to leave your home? Send us your comments using the form below: | Are you in the area? Have you been affected by the wildfire? Have you been forced to leave your home? Send us your comments using the form below: |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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