NEWS RELEASES
Historic Buildings Lost In Big Bend NP Fire
Editor's Note: This news item was retrieved and first published through The National Park Service's website.
BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK, TX - The National Park Service (NPS) reports that a wildfire destroyed several of Big Bend National Park’s oldest and most iconic structures in the Castolon Historic District including the barracks building, which housed the La Harmonia Store and Castolon Visitor Center, as well as the nearby restroom building. The barracks building and its neighbors were built nearly 100 years ago to house U.S. Cavalry units during the Mexican Revolution. Fire crews were able to save several other historic buildings including the two Officers Quarters buildings, Magdalena House, Garlick House, Alvino House, the Recreation Hall, guard shack, the granary and tack room, as well as numerous historic features including the wagon, steam engine, and Morris engines on display. The popular Cottonwood Campground and amphitheater on the banks of the Rio Grande were also saved from the flames.
The wildfire began on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande, jumping the river on May 22 near Castolon. Big Bend National Park wildland fire crews, the international Los Diablos unit and the Texas A&M Forest Service wildland fire crews, with help from Terlingua Fire & EMS and Fort Stockton structural fire units, battled the blaze for several days in extreme conditions with temperatures reaching 110 degrees in the shade, single digit humidity and gusting winds. The fire eventually grew to an estimated 1,280 acres before being brought under control on May 26. Meanwhile, a Mexican forestry crew worked to contain the blaze on the Mexican side of the river.
Several areas of the park remain closed due to the fire, including the Castolon Historic District, Cottonwood Campground, and Santa Elena Canyon areas, as well as several roads. Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive is open as far as Mile 22, about a mile before the Castolon district.
For further updates, visit the Big Bend National Park website.
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