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Kurk Fire (Texas)

Active · 5% contained · 1,500 acres · started 2026-09-08 · updated 2026-09-09

Kurk Fire (Texas) — NASA satellite

Satellite image: NASA MODIS (infrared — active fire in orange/red, from yesterday).

Heat detections: NASA FIRMS (last 48h).

Quick facts

Location
6 Miles NE from Cherokee, TX
Personnel
62
Complexity
Type 3 Incident
Fuel
Short Grass (1 foot)
Behavior
Active, Spotting, Torching
Jurisdiction
SFS · Private land

Burning through short grass standing about a foot tall, the active Kurk Fire has scorched 1,500 acres in San Saba, Texas, located six miles northeast of Cherokee. Satellites are picking up four heat detections in the past 48 hours, illustrating how far the fire has spread across private land.

The incident is currently five percent contained, with behavior characterized as active, spotting, and torching. A response force of 62 personnel is managing the situation under a Type 3 Incident designation and Type 3 IC management, backed by the SFS agency. The fire started on September 8, 2026, arriving during the region's typical fire season which spans from June to October.

This event unfolds against a broader national backdrop where 3,188,211 hectares have burned across the country so far in 2026, tracking 42 percent below the two-decade average.

In context

This wildfire has been burning in Texas for 1 day. So far it has affected roughly 1,500 acres — about 6.1 km². Crews have contained 5% of the perimeter, but most of the fire line is still open.

In the Northern Hemisphere, wildfire activity usually peaks during the warm, dry months — roughly May through October.

The bigger picture in United States

Across United States, roughly 3,188,211 hectares have burned so far in 2026 — 42% below the two-decade average. Data from Copernicus GWIS.

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