Gran Mesa fire burns 60 acres

60 acres burn in Grand Mesa last Thursday. Leander firefighters responded to the fire near Lakeline Boulevard and Osage Drive in the Gran Mesa development about 12:40 p.m. June 16. The fire spread fast, reaching a full-alarm fire within the first nine minutes, according to a City of Leander. 100 were in direct danger from the fire, more than 800 homes were threatened.

To read more about the fire, click here.

To find out more about homes in the Leander area, click here.

Drought Conditions, Wildfires & Cedar Park

Central Texas is experiences extreme drought conditions. Cedar Park officials met with local residents last week to discuss the increased fire risk and offer tips for improving home safety before and after wildfires. To lower the risk level of your home and property, you can use fire retardant building materials, planting trees & plants with lower flammability rating and creating a defensible space (breaks between flammable materials). To find out more on how to protect your home in an emergency situation, you can visit www.cedarparkprepares.com

Dispute over fire coverage costs could affect 1,700 homes

TCESD 14 notified Cedar Park city officials June 16 that it intended to terminate a fire service contract, effective June 15, 2011. TCESD 14 contracts with Cedar Park for the city’s fire department to provide fire services to more than 1,700 homes in the ETJ.

Residents in Bella Vista, Twin Creeks Country Club, Ranch at Deer Creek and Cypress Canyon subdivisions receive fire services from Cedar Park’s top-rated fire department, but could receive lower-rated coverage from the Volente Fire Department if the contract ends.

The change in the service contract may also affect homeowner insurance rates.

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