At approximately 2:00 pm on September 1, 2023, Texas A&M Forest Service received a request for a fire on Lost Indian Camp Road off State Highway 247, 9 miles northwest of Huntsville, Texas. The fire is actively burning in pine timber with grass and yaupon understory. Elevated fire weather, including low relative humidity and winds out of the East are supporting high fire behavior where dry vegetation is present on the fire.

At 8:00 a.m. on September 3, Florida Forest Service Red Complex Incident Management Team assumed command of the Game Preserve Fire. The team had been pre-positioned in Texas to be able to respond and assist with incidents as needed. This team will manage the fire with resources from local fire departments, Texas A&M Forest Service, Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS), and Texas Emergency Medical Task Force (TEMTF).

As of 8:30 a.m. on September 3, all evacuation orders and road closures for the Game Preserve Fire have been lifted. Fire managers and local officials will continue to monitor the fire to ensure safety for all residents and public. 

On September 3, dozers will work to install a line next to the Cedar Ridge neighborhood. Fixed wing aircraft will work to put retardant in this area as well.

There is a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) in place for the area over the fire, this was updated 9/2/23 [NOTAM: FDC 3/4932, https://bit.ly/3qWdnHY ]. Please avoid the area to provide a safe environment for firefighting aircraft. Please avoid the area to provide a safe environment for incoming firefighting aircraft.

Timber (Litter and Understory)
Medium Logging Slash

Observed Fire Behavior or Significant Events for the Time Period Reported (describe fire behavior using accepted terminology. For non-fire incidents, describe significant events related to the materials or other causal agents):

Minimal
Smoldering
Creeping

Narrative:

Fire activity continues to cool. Isolated heat is still visible interior likely from needle cast reburn and
stump holes. Fire activity is expected to subside as moisture enters the area.

12 hours: As the cloud cover burns off in the afternoon humidity will decrease to around 50

24 hours: As the marine influence gradually recedes, resulting in clearing skies with daytime temperatures increasing slightly as the humidity drops allowing for continued fire activity. Overnight there is a potential for a thermal belt to develop and allow some fire activity to continue in the affected areas. The heavier fuels and burning stump holes will continue to produce smoke until consumed or extinguished resulting in areas of smoldering and creeping. During the peak burn period there may be some active backing and flanking in interior green islands or dirty burn areas, particularly those areas exposed to the sun.

48 hours: Developing moderate high pressure increasing warmer temperatures and lower humidity. This will allow for hot dry conditions increasing the availability of fuels and fire activity. The heavier fuels and burning stump holes will continue to produce smoke until consumed or extinguished. There could be areas of smoldering and creeping. During the peak burn period there may be some active backing and flanking in interior green islands or dirty burn areas.

72 hours: The high pressure will provide warmer temperatures and lower humidity.

12 hours: Fire behavior is expected to be minimal. Creeping and smoldering in duff with isolated jackpots of concentrated heavy dead and downed fuels. No perimeter growth is anticipated.

24 hours: Seasonable warm and dry weather will continue and allow for interior fuels to continue to consume. Fire behavior will be creeping and smoldering in surface fuels while consuming jackpots of concentrated heavy dead and downed fuels. No perimeter growth anticipated.

48 hours: Continued warm and dry weather, fire behavior potential will be limited to areas of available fuels interior to established control features. No perimeter growth anticipated.

72 hours: Continued warm and dry weather, fire behavior potential will be limited to areas of available fuels interior to established control features. No perimeter growth is anticipated.

72 hours: ERC values for the area are forecast to rise near the 90th percentile by Friday. No perimeter growth growth is anticipated.

48 hours: Return to a more normal weather pattern for the extended forecast will favor fuels drying to a level where slow growth can be anticipated.

48 hours: Return to a more normal weather pattern for the extended forecast will favor fuels drying to a level where slow growth can be anticipated on the northern portion of the Lookout Fire where there is unchecked fireline. Smoke production will increase slightly.

12 hours: Creeping, smoldering, and backing fire with continued rollout overnight. Continued thermal

24 hours: Warmer and drying conditions along with stronger winds from the N-NE. These conditions

48 hours: Potential for the lowest RH values and ENE winds to set up on Wednesday going into Thursday. Increased ridgetop winds will test control lines and will increase spotting potential. Ridgetops will pose the areas of greatest rates of spread if these winds occur with the low RH and higher temps. In sheltered areas of the fire spread will continues to be determined by roll out and

72 hours: Potential for the lowest RH values and ENE winds to set up on Wednesday going into Thursday. Increased ridgetop winds will test control lines and will increase spotting potential. Ridgetops will pose the areas of greatest rates of spread if these winds occur with the low rh and higher temps. In sheltered areas of the fire spread will continues to be determined by roll out and

72 hours: Following the warm, dry, and windy pattern. Conditions are expected to return to near normal values but with no precipitation anticipated. Increased perimeter

12 hours: Scattered pockets of smoldering with no perimeter growth.

24 hours: Scattered pockets of heat with increased smoke production related to smoldering and

48 hours: Scattered pockets of heat with smoldering and consumption of large wood. No perimeter growth anticipated. Increase in observed smoke in the fire due to warming and drying on the other side of the weak cold front passage on the 11th.

72 hours: Scattered pockets of heat with smoldering and consumption of large wood. No perimeter growth anticipated. Warming and drying with increased smoke production interior as

12 hours: Fire activity limited to smoldering and creeping in isolated stump holes and heavy dead and down fuels. No fire spread is expected.

24 hours: Fire activity limited to smoldering and creeping in isolated stump holes and heavy dead and down fuels. No fire spread is expected.

48 hours: Fire activity limited to smoldering and creeping in isolated stump holes and heavy dead and down fuels. No fire spread is expected.

72 hours: Fire activity limited to smoldering and creeping in isolated stump holes and heavy dead and down fuels. No fire spread is expected.

72 hours: Fire activity limited to smoldering and creeping in isolated stump holes and heavy dead and down fuels. No fire spread is expected.

12 hours: Smith River Complex South

12 hours: Smith River Complex North

24 hours: Smith River Complex South

24 hours: Smith River Complex North

48 hours: Smith River Complex South

48 hours: Smith River Complex North

72 hours: Smith River Complex South

72 hours: Smith River Complex North

72 hours: Smith River Complex South

72 hours: Smith River Complex North

12 hours: Chances for showers and scattered thunderstorms will continue overnight.

24 hours: On Thursday, moisture will hang on in the area keeping minimum humidity values and temperatures in the 50's. Winds will be light, except in the vicinity of storms where thunderstorm outflows may cause sudden increases in wind speeds from erratic directions.

48 hours: Friday will see less coverage in storms and decrease in expected rain totals. As we move into the weekend, drier air will push into the area bringing an end to the shower and thunderstorm activity.

72 hours: Skies should begin to clear out early Saturday morning and remain clear through the weekend. Although clear skies, cooler and drier conditions are anticipated through the early part of next week, critical fire weather is not expected.

12 hours: Chances for showers and scattered thunderstorms will continue overnight.

24 hours: On Thursday, moisture will hang on in the area keeping minimum humidity values and temperatures in the 50s. Winds will be light, except in the vicinity of storms where thunderstorm outflows may cause sudden increases in wind speeds from erratic directions.

48 hours: Friday will see less coverage in storms and decrease in expected rain totals.

72 hours: As we move into the weekend, drier air will push into the area bringing an end to the showers and thunderstorm activity. Skies should begin to clear out early Saturday morning and remain clear through the weekend.

72 hours: Skies should remain clear through the weekend and although cooler and direr conditions are anticipated through the early part of next week, critical fire weather is not expected.

72 hours: Continued cooling of the fire perimeter.