This is the result of a spreading fire burning on Lake Corpus Christi near Swinney Switch on Christmas afternoon. Fire departments from Beeville, Mathis, Orange Grove, Swinney Switch, Sandia, Lagarto, George West and Three Rivers battled the fire. Residents along the lake were ordered to evacuate by law enforcement and a Department of Public Safety helicopter monitored the fire from above. Gusty north winds could have caused a smoldering fire to spread.
That is apparently what happened on Christmas Day earlier this week when about 200 acres, some of which used to be the bottom of Lake Corpus Christi, caught fire.
According to area reports, 200 acres burned, taking out two houses and a vehicle.
The fire reportedly started about five miles south of Swinney Switch on Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 25, with smoke that could be seen from miles away. Ninety residents of the area were forced to evacuate.
Firefighters from throughout the Coastal Bend Region eventually were called to help extinguish the blaze.
One man said there had been a fire in the same area about a month ago and it was possible that some logs or stumps had been smoldering as a result of the earlier blaze.
Gusty north winds picked up on Christmas Day and that could have caused a smoldering fire to flare up and spread.
Most of those who were evacuated were reported to have been back home by the following day.
Hector Salinas, superintendent of the George P. Morrill, I Water Treatment Plant at Swinney Switch, said the water level at Lake Corpus Christi is 77 feet mean sea level.
The City of Corpus Christi has maintained that level by releasing water from the Choke Canyon Reservoir so that the Beeville Water Supply District’s equipment can continue withdrawing raw water.
The lake now holds only 15.7 percent of its capacity, leaving large portions of the previous lake bed high and dry.
This time last year the lake was at 34 percent of capacity.
Choke Canyon Reservoir is now at 203.4 feet above sea level. That places the lake at 47.6 percent of capacity.
This time last year Choke Canyon was at 208.7 feet above sea level and it held 61.4 percent of its maximum capacity.
The combined lake levels, Lake Corpus Christi and Choke Canyon, are at 39 percent.
Last year at this time the combined levels stood at 54 percent.
The Coastal Bend has been in a prolonged drought situation for about two years now.
Gary Kent is a reporter at the Bee-Picayune and can be reached at 358-2550, ext. 120, or at reporter@mySouTex.com.
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