Updates on Montgomery / San Jacinto County Wildfire with Mark Keough - Montgomery County Judge

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
They have a fire situation and sant just sent to
a Montgomery County. It's been burning since I believe sometime yesterday.
I don't know if we have any idea yet what
may have sparked the blaze, but it continues to spread.
Joining us is Montgomery County. Judge Markillo. Do we have
any idea how it all started? Judge?

Speaker 2 (00:20):
You know there's there are some people have sent it
who was trash fire? Some people said that it was.
To be honest with you at this point, we'll figure
that out once it's all over. But I got to
tell you it was. It hit. It got very quickly
to about thirteen hundred acres. I left there about one
o'clock last night. I'll be back there in a few minutes.
And now it's up the two thousand acres only containing Yeah.

(00:44):
So the good news though, is that we there was
an evacuation of about nine hundred homes, both in San
Diracino and in Montgomery County. But there was no damage
to structures, no loss of life, fill loss of animals.
Our assets are there and prepared.

Speaker 1 (01:02):
Well, that's good.

Speaker 2 (01:03):
That is good news.

Speaker 1 (01:05):
Yeah, it's good news for now. Anyway, we know we're
gonna have We're gonna have gusty winds here day drop out. Okay,
try to try to reestablish contact with him if you can.
I'm guessing I'm guessing wherever he is, he might not
be in a very good cell cell situation. But we'll
try to get Judge Ko back on here. Yeah, that's

(01:25):
great news. At least so far, we don't need to
hear it ringing on the air. Marco, take that down.
Let's uh, let's take a look at this. Nine hundred
homes in the way, but so far we don't have
any structure damages or any homes that are damaged, and
that is good news. But we got the judge back.
I'm guessing you're not probably not in the best place
for cell phone service at the moment. Judge. Let me

(01:46):
let me ask you about the winds. It's supposed to
be windy again today, not as bad today, ten to
fifteen with occasional twenty five miles for our gusts. But
it's going to be windy here all the way through
the weekend, and the winds are coming out of the north.
And from what I can how the populations owners such
as Conroe, for example, are obviously our south or where
this fire is burning. Are there any concerns that the

(02:08):
fire could head towards more populous areas.

Speaker 2 (02:12):
At this point? You know, it's it's been moving south
and east in major forest areas, but as a continuous south,
I mean there are population areas that could be affected.
We don't want to put a bunch of beer into
people we've already evacuated, as I mentioned, about nine hundred
homes and uh and so, but we're watching very close.

(02:33):
Advantage we have this morning that we did not have
all night last night, but we're going to have air
assets out there. Some people have asked about these various
one thirties and what not these bankers, Well you're going
to see that all over the place here today and
I think that will help us tremendously well.

Speaker 1 (02:49):
Of course, the idea here is to try to catch
up on this. You mentioned it's about ten percent contained
at this point. Obviously, a nice steady rain would probably
be one of the best things they could happened for you,
But there's no rain in the forecast.

Speaker 2 (03:04):
There's not a cloud in the sky.

Speaker 1 (03:06):
Yeah, what's what's the plan going forward? How many? How
many different fire departments do you have working on this
right now. I'm guessing you're getting a lot of important
in the entire Houston area.

Speaker 2 (03:15):
We have from we have them from Houston, we have
them from South County Precinct one, North County certainly all
those out in our east area. We also have the
ones from San Dicino, and we have set up on
Peach Creek, you know, that's kind of the borderline between
Montgomery County and San Cino on both sides. Uh, with

(03:37):
the goal of protecting people's assets, homes and whatnot. And
so far, so good, and I think we've got a
great team out there managing. We've also got uh things
set up in shelters for people as needed out in
that area. Mission Gray has done a good job and
in organizing what we need to do with all of

(03:58):
our livestock. Got the Montgomery County Animal Shelter has got
a team of people trailer, our Animal control is out there.
The four services with us at the Texas Department of
Regency Management Strike Team. I mean, there's a lot of stuff,
a lot of people and uh, but as things are
kind of getting going this morning, it's going to be
pretty active here, all.

Speaker 1 (04:19):
Right, sir, Well, we'll let you get back to it,
and hopefully we'll talk again soon and get another update
from you. Thank you for your time, As always, that
is much for our pleasure. Montgomery County Judge Mark Keoh