History of the Wilderness Ridge Fire

On February 28, 2009, a wildfire started in a right-of-way owned by Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative.  By the time repair crews arrived at the scene, sparks from the downed power line had ignited nearby vegetation, resulting in an out-of-control blaze.

The wildfire spread quickly, threatening some 200 homes and dozens of businesses.

Bastrop County was declared a disaster zone, residents were quickly evacuated, and both volunteer crews and state agencies, supported by heavy helicopters, struggled to contain the fire. But despite their best efforts, the Wilderness Ridge Fire raged for nearly a week.

By the time crews were able to bring the blaze under control on March 6th, approximately 1491 acres of pristine land had already been consumed. In addition, some 26 homes and 20 local businesses were destroyed.

We believe Bluebonnet had a duty to keep trees and other vegetation from accumulating in the right-of-way and creating a fire hazard. Had the trees and vegetation been properly cleared, the fire would not have spread.

But the Bluebonnet Electrical Cooperative was not the only party responsible.

Bluebonnet hired McCoy Tree Surgery to clear this right-of-way.  Like Bluebonnet, McCoy Tree Surgery also failed to properly trim and remove the vegetation in that right-of-way.

Attorneys from Williams Kherkher, The Leon Law Firm, and The Rider Law Firm have joined together to help the Lost Pines and Wilderness Ridge community rebuild their homes and businesses. We are working to hold the Bluebonnet Electrical Cooperative and McCoy Tree Surgery accountable for the substantial damages caused by the fire.