Hot and dry conditions across the region on the 2nd and 3rd resulted in elevated fire weather conditions. A few fires started on these days but several more fires began on the 4th and 5th behind a strong cold front.
Every event with a place to put it; 22 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS FWD wrote it up.
Hot and dry conditions across the region on the 2nd and 3rd resulted in elevated fire weather conditions. A few fires started on these days but several more fires began on the 4th and 5th behind a strong cold front. The cold front moved through the region on the 4th bringing strong and gusty north winds with it. On the 5th, humidity values fell dangerously low. A Red Flag Warning was issued for parts of the area on the 4th and 5th. Over the holiday weekend, over two dozen wildfires ignited with several of the fires causing damage. The largest complex of fires was in Limestone County where five fires burned 7500 acres and 7 homes. The Concord-Robbins Fire in Leon County burned 31 homes and 4689 acres.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Fort Worth, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Sep 2, 11:59 AM CST, 1 hour 1 minute earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX 1259 PM CDT FRI SEP 2 2011 .AVIATION... VFR CONDITIONS WILL PERSIST THROUGH FORECAST PERIOD FOR ALL TAF SITES. SOME SCATTERED CU IS EXPECTED THROUGH THE AFTERNOON HOURS BUT ONLY CONCERN WILL BE THE UPCOMING WIND SHIFT TONIGHT DUE TO THE TROPICAL SYSTEM IN THE GULF. WINDS ARE CURRENTLY EAST SOUTHEAST AT THE MAJOR AIRPORTS. WIND SPEEDS WILL REMAIN AROUND 10 KNOTS AND THEN DECREASE AFTER SUNSET. OVERNIGHT...WINDS WILL BACK TO THE NORTHEAST BY 12Z SATURDAY FOR ALL TAF SITES. WIND SPEEDS SHOULD INCREASE AGAIN AROUND 15Z BUT WILL REMAIN NEAR OR UNDER 13 KNOTS. 27 && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 402 AM CDT FRI SEP 2 2011/ A CHANGE IN THE THE UPPER AIR PATTERN ACROSS THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES WILL TAKE PLACE DURING THE NEXT FEW OF DAYS. A LARGE UPPER TROUGH OVER CENTRAL CANADA IS EXPECTED TO DEEPEN AND SPREAD SOUTHEAST INTO THE NORTHEASTERN U.S. THIS WEEKEND AND EVENTUALLY TO THE EAST COAST EARLY NEXT WEEK. AS THIS HAPPENS...THE ONCE DOMINATING HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE WILL WEAKEN OVER OUR REGION. A COLD FRONT STRETCHED ACROSS THE NORTHERN PLAINS WILL BE GIVEN A NICE SOUTHWARD PUSH AS A RESULT OF THE WEATHER PATTERN CHANGE. THIS FRONT SHOULD MOVE SOUTH ACROSS NORTH TEXAS DURING THE DAY SUNDAY BRINGING WITH IT MUCH COOLER CONDITIONS ACROSS THE AREA AS WE HEAD INTO LABOR DAY. AT THE SAME TIME...EYES WILL ALSO BE TURNED TO THE TROPICS WHERE WE HAVE TROPICAL DEPRESSION THIRTEEN RESIDING OVER THE NORTHWESTERN GULF OF MEXICO. THE FORECAST FROM THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER SHOWS A SLOW NORTHWEST THEN NORTHWARD TRACK OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS WITH LANDFALL AS A TROPICAL STORM ALONG THE CENTRAL LOUISIANA COAST LATE SATURDAY OR SUNDAY. THE VERY SLOW MOVEMENT OF THIS SYSTEM WILL LEAD TO THE POTENTIAL OF FLOODING RAINS ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND NORTHWESTERN GULF COAST OVER THE WEEKEND. UNFORTUNATELY FOR OUR AREA IT LOOKS LIKE MOST OF THE RAIN WILL BE CONFINED TO AREAS SOUTHEAST AND EAST OF NORTH TEXAS. THERE STILL IS SOME UNCERTAINTY AS TO WHERE THE TROPICAL/SUBTROPICAL LOW WILL MOVE DURING THE EARLY AND MIDDLE PART OF NEXT WEEK. THE MOST LIKELY SCENARIO SEEMS TO BE THAT IT WOULD BE PICKED UP BY THE UPPER TROUGH AND LIFTED OFF TO THE NORTHEAST ACROSS THE SOUTHEASTERN STATES AND AWAY FROM TEXAS. THIS IS REINFORCED BY 00Z RUNS OF BOTH THE GFS AND ECMWF. IF IT HOLDS TRUE IT LOOKS LIKE THE BEST CHANCE FOR PRECIPITATION OVER OUR AREA WILL BE DURING THE PASSAGE OF THE COLD FRONT SUNDAY. MOISTURE WILL BE LIMITED HOWEVER AND POPS WILL REMAIN ONLY AT 20 PERCENT DURING THAT TIME FOR THIS FORECAST PACKAGE. WITH RAIN CHANCES REMAINING LOW...FIRE WEATHER COULD AGAIN BE A CONCERN SUNDAY AND MONDAY AS WINDS WILL BE OUT OF THE NORTH AT 15-25 MPH AND FUEL MOISTURE WILL REMAIN EXTREMELY LOW. ONE HELPFUL ELEMENT ON SUNDAY WILL BE RELATIVE HUMIDITY. IT LOOKS LIKE DEWPOINTS WILL BE SLOW TO DROP ON SUNDAY BEHIND THE FRONT WHICH MIGHT HELP RH NUMBERS TO STAY ABOVE CRITICAL LEVELS. EITHER WAY IT WILL BE CLOSE AND SOMETHING TO KEEP AN EYE ON. OTHERWISE COOLER TEMPERATURES WILL FINALLY RETURN TO NORTH TEXAS NEXT WEEK DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF SEPTEMBER. 30 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... DALLAS-FT. WORTH, TX 101 79 100 77 94 / 10 10 5 5 20 WACO, TX 100 74 100 76 97 / 10 10 5 5 20 PARIS, TX 97 75 97 73 94 / 10 10 10 10 20 DENTON, TX 101 74 100 74 94 / 5 5 5 5 20 MCKINNEY, TX 100 73 99 72 93 / 10 10 5 10 20 DALLAS, TX 100 79 100 79 94 / 10 10 5 10 20 TERRELL, TX 98 75 98 75 96 / 10 10 10 10 20 CORSICANA, TX 98 75 100 74 98 / 10 10 10 10 20 TEMPLE, TX 98 72 100 73 97 / 10 10 5 5 20 MINERAL WELLS, TX 101 72 101 71 92 / 5 5 5 5 20 && .FWD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && 27/
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX 148 PM CDT FRI SEP 2 2011 TXZ091>095-100>107-115>123-129>135-141>148-156>162-174-175-031200- MONTAGUE-COOKE-GRAYSON-FANNIN-LAMAR-YOUNG-JACK-WISE-DENTON-COLLIN- HUNT-DELTA-HOPKINS-STEPHENS-PALO PINTO-PARKER-TARRANT-DALLAS- ROCKWALL-KAUFMAN-VAN ZANDT-RAINS-EASTLAND-ERATH-HOOD-SOMERVELL- JOHNSON-ELLIS-HENDERSON-COMANCHE-MILLS-HAMILTON-BOSQUE-HILL-NAVARRO- FREESTONE-ANDERSON-LAMPASAS-CORYELL-BELL-MCLENNAN-FALLS-LIMESTONE- LEON-MILAM-ROBERTSON- 148 PM CDT FRI SEP 2 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH TEXAS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE FOR AREAS GENERALLY ALONG AND WEST OF INTERSTATE 35 THIS AFTERNOON. ANY THUNDERSTORMS THAT DEVELOP WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND STRONG OUTFLOW WINDS. CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING MAY SET OFF GRASS FIRES WHICH WOULD TEND TO SPREAD QUICKLY DUE TO OUTFLOW WINDS. ELEVATED FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON DUE TO LOW HUMIDITY AND SOUTHEAST WINDS NEAR 10 TO 15 MPH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. ELEVATED FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY DUE TO INCREASING NORTH WINDS AND DRY AIR. THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS OVER SOUTHEASTERN PORTIONS OF NORTH TEXAS SATURDAY...AND ACROSS THE ENTIRE REGION SUNDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. CAVANAUGH
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
22 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.
According to the Texas DEM, a one-acre fire on CR 4343 near LaRue damaged a large shop.
An 18-acre grass fire along FM 314 south of Brownsboro heavily damaged a house. This fire was started along the roadway from a discarded cigarette. The fire was quickly contained on the 3rd but not fully controlled until the 14th.
The Naylor Fire began near Plainview Road and Naylor Road to the southwest of the North Texas Regional Airport. This fire was started on the 3rd by a car and burned 500 acres. It was contained on the 4th and controlled on the 6th.
The Cedar Ridge Fire burned 958 acres between FM 2114 and FM 2490 south of Lake Whitney. The fire began from a vehicle hauling a bar-b-que pit. One camper trailer was damaged by this fire.
The Prairie Hill Fire burned 3000 acres around the community of Prairie Hill. This fire was started by downed power lines. The fire was contained on the 4th but not fully controlled until the 14th.
Henderson #495 Fire, also known as the New Chapel Fire, burned 5000 acres. This fire was located near FMs 315 and 321 approximately 9 miles north of Palestine. Five barns and 100 bales of hay were lost in this fire.
A 3000-acre fire in western Limestone County began approximately 20 miles east of Waco. This fire burned one home.
A 440-acre fire at FM 148 and CR 2613 near Lively destroyed one home.
The Oak Street Fire in Corsicana burned 30 acres and consumed 9 metal buildings which were shops of small business owners. Fourteen cars were also lost in this fire.
Five fires in Freestone County erupted on the 4th. The fires burned a total of 7500 acres. According to the Limestone Office of Emergency Management, 7 homes and 18 outbuildings were burned by these fires. The largest fire was located near Teague and the fire were contained the morning of the 7th.
An animal on a power line sparked a grass fire that spread and destroyed one home, four vehicles, and five sheds.
A fire near Dawson burned 500 acres. This was one of about 10 grass fires that erupted in the county on this day.
The Concord-Robbins Fire was started on the 4th, contained on the 7th, and fully controlled on the 11th. It burned a total of 4689 acres within an area bordered by FM 39 to the east, FM 1147 to the west and Highway 7 to the north. The fire burned 31 homes, several more sheds and outbuildings, and some farm equipment.
A fire began near Highway 287 in Mildred but spread west toward the town of Navarro. The fire burned a train tressel that continued to burn for several hours. The fire also burned at least one boat, a travel trailer, and some carpentry equipment. Approximately 35 acres were burned in this fire. This was one of about 10 grass fires that erupted in the county on this day. The fire was contained on the 5th and controlled on the 7th.
A 600-acre grass fire burned in southwest Hopkins County near the Miller Grove area. The fire began near FM 1567 and burned pastureland and woodland.
The South Sulphur Fire burned 100 acres near CR 4415 and FM 1566. Two abandoned, unoccupied homes were lost along with 3 barns and 4 large rolls of hay. The fire began and was contained on the 4th but was not fully controlled until the 6th.
Henderson #507 Fire burned 1400 acres and was started by power lines. This fire began near FM 322 and CR 2109 west of Elkhart. The fire began on the 5th, was contained on the 6th and controlled on the 15th.
The Texas DEM reports a 100-acre fire on CR 367 burned two recreational vehicles.
The Texas DEM reported a 6-acre fire at FM 314 and CR 3603 south of Brownsboro damaged a structure.
A 10-15 acre fire in the 1100 block of Knob Hill Road burned a mobile home. This fire was located approximately 3 miles northwest of Rogers.
A 600-acre fire burned near Oil Field Road in the far southeastern portions of the county. No damage or injuries were reported.
Henderson #504 Fire burned 503 acres and burned one home. This fire began near FM 228 and CR 1214 in the far southeastern corner of the county. This fire was started by a downed power line.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, September 2011
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 347940, 347943, 347944, 347945, 347947, 347946, 349597, 347954, 347955, 348011, 348909, 348914, 347948, 348913, 349011, 347949, 348005, 347952, 347953, 348889, 348896, 348008.