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As Texas battles fires, officials ask for reinforcements

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As wildfires raged across Texas on Tuesday, fire officials near the town of Bastrop rushed to bring in hundreds of additional firefighters to battle a massive uncontained blaze that has destroyed nearly 600 homes in drought-stricken central Texas.

About 375 firefighters are battling the Bastrop blaze, which by Tuesday afternoon had charred a swath of grass, pines and oaks east of Austin that was 21 miles wide and 24 miles across. The 600 houses destroyed so far make up the highest number of homes ever lost in a single fire in Texas history, said Victoria Koenig, a Texas Forest Service spokeswoman. Statewide, about 400 other houses have been destroyed.

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Authorities asked fire officials from across the state and country to send an additional 300 to 400 firefighters to attack the Bastrop fire, which has spread quickly due to strong winds and extremely dry brush, Koenig said.

“The fire is active and not contained at all,” Koenig said.

Photos: Texas wildfires

Two helicopters and several air tankers from the Texas National Guard and U.S. Fire Administration made constant drops on the fire Tuesday morning, she said.

In the last week, firefighters have grappled with 181 fires, 22 of which were sparked overnight Tuesday. The blazes have burned about 118,000 acres, the Texas Forest Service said.

On Tuesday, Gov. Rick Perry toured by helicopter wildfire damage in the Steiner Ranch area west of Austin. That fire had burned 125 acres and was 40% contained Tuesday.

‘These fires are serious and widespread and as mean as I have ever seen, burning more than 1,000 homes since this wildfire season began,’ Perry said, video below. ‘Texas appreciates the resources and support we continue to receive from across the state and across the country to fight these fires, and the efforts of the brave men and women who put themselves in harm’s way to protect Texans’ lives and property.’

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