"The fire’s rapid growth to over 2,700 acres in just a few days, combined with the deployment of nearly 80 personnel and the extreme fire behavior early on, highlights the significant threat it posed to the surrounding area and the resources required to achieve containment."
The Rio Escondido wildfire, located in Hamilton County, Texas, was first discovered on August 24, 2026, and is attributed to equipment and vehicle use. The incident, managed by the SFS jurisdictional agency, expanded rapidly from 100 acres to 2,713 acres within a week, reaching 80% containment by August 26 and full containment by September 3. Fire behavior evolved from extreme, wind‑driven runs with spotting on August 25 to moderate and minimal conditions as containment progressed, with the last reported behavior on September 29 described as extreme but creeping and smoldering. Personnel numbers fluctuated from 79 on August 25 to a peak of 71 on September 3, with containment consistently at 100% thereafter. No estimated cost has been reported.
Official source description: 2 Miles NE from Evant, TX
Extreme; Creeping; Smoldering
Moderate air quality. Unusually sensitive individuals should consider reducing prolonged outdoor exertion.
Reporting area: Waco-Killeen. Source: AirNow.gov (EPA).
Observed: 2026-10-11 02:00:00 UTC · Site: Killeen C1047.
The fire is now fully contained and exhibiting minimal, smoldering behavior; general wildfire safety guidance applies, but residents should remain aware of any local advisories.
IRWIN ID: {6E6FDB30-48C7-4AD7-BE63-8A518D4A5FE7}
Discovered: Aug 24, 2026
Cause: Equipment and vehicle use
Managing Agency: SFS
Coordinates: 31.4945, -98.1204
Other wildfires no longer present in our filtered incident feed in TX.
The Rio Escondido Fire has burned 2,713 acres as of September 29, 2026.
Yes, the Rio Escondido Fire is fully contained (100%).
The official cause has been listed as: Equipment and vehicle use.
The Rio Escondido Fire is burning in Hamilton, TX.
The Rio Escondido Fire currently meets our U.S. incident tracking criteria. This does not confirm current fire behavior.
Real-time map, acreage, and containment for every major U.S. wildfire, updated from official NIFC data.
View Live Map →