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Bandera County Fire Marshal Jason Rutherford and Emergency Management Coordinator Judy Lefevers address commissioners during their regular March 28 session.
Photo by Jessica Nohealapa’ahi
March 29, 2025
County fire marshal shares details of catastrophic Saddle Fire
By Jessica Nohealapa’ahi
The Bandera Prophet
Bandera County Fire Marshal Jason Rutherford provided more details about the Saddle Fire that burned through 17 acres earlier this month.
Rutherford said when the call came in at 3:23 p.m., he was heading home to get ready for his church fish fry. Moments later, he saw the smoke.
“From listening to the radio traffic and being able to read smoke, I knew we had structures and tires involved,” Rutherford told commissioners Thursday. “My immediate concern was the deputies driving in and getting trapped.”
Rutherford said after setting up a command post, he directed first responders to cut fences so animals could escape, then homeowners who initially refused to evacuate were persuaded to leave. As the smoke thickened, Rutherford said the Texas Forest Service sent airplanes and strike teams to assist.
“Within an hour, we had 100 emergency personnel on the scene,” Rutherford said.
The fire started on Roundup Trail off Hunters Road, then jumped to Pony Road and Saddle Drive. Rutherford said luck was with them when flames spread to overgrazed properties, which helped to slow the fire’s progress. Also helpful was air support that dropped fire retardant in areas where brush trucks could not reach. Manmade and naturally existing fire breaks further decelerated the blaze when it reached Elm Pass Road, which Rutherford called his “last stand.” Bandera Fire and Rescue remained onsite until the next day, in case spot fires grew or embers reignited.
“They worked hard all night,” Rutherford said, adding firefighters were striving for 100 percent containment and burn-out, due to 40 mph winds predicted the next day. “I can’t say enough about the local and state responders. We became a team and controlled the chaos. Nobody was killed.”
Rutherford said the fire was started by people grinding up an old RV to sell it, adding the case is still an ongoing investigation. He said 1,600 tires burned, which firefighters spent hours the next day turning and spraying with retardant. Six families were displaced from 11 destroyed structures, and sadly some animals did not escape.
Rutherford said it’s important to know the hard work that was involved in fighting and containing the fire, which Medina VFD firefighter Criss Wilson called “once in a lifetime.”
Responses and aid came from the Texas Forest Service, the Texas Interstate Fire Municipal Aid System, the Texas Department of Emergency Management, and two EMS teams; responding volunteer fire departments included Bandera, Pipe Creek, Lakehills, Castle Lake, Lake Shore, Centerpoint, Medina, Utopia, Vanderpool and Tarpley.
“That’s thousands of dollars in labor. People don’t realize in the county what we’ve got,” Pct. 4 Commissioner Jody Rutherford said. “Thank the Lord for them.”
Addressing other fires around the county, Rutherford said this year has been active, and is ahead of the pace set last year. Since January, he reported 15 brush fires, nine structure fires, and 16 “other” fires. He said many fires have been caused by grinding, welding and equipment. In unrelated fires, two people were injured, one of whom remains in intensive care.
Emergency Management Coordinator Judy Lefevers said her department has been focusing on preparedness, which can shorten response times.
“We’ve had an historical fire season so far. When the weather is like this, it’s about prevention,” Lefevers said, adding residents need to comply with burn bans, use spotters when welding is necessary, and use common sense, such as not throwing cigarettes out the car window and using extreme caution when barbecuing - which is not allowed on Red Flag Warning Days.
“From the recovery process, I can’t say enough about the Silver Sage. They were instrumental in making sure the displaced families had an immediate place to go,” Lefevers said. “All six families have been rehoused.”
A crawfish boil fundraiser is set for April 11 and 12, from noon to dark, at Mansfield Park, with proceeds benefitting Bandera County fire departments.
“Eat some crawfish and help our fire departments,” Pct. 1 Commissioner Troy Konvicka said.
Rutherford said when the call came in at 3:23 p.m., he was heading home to get ready for his church fish fry. Moments later, he saw the smoke.
“From listening to the radio traffic and being able to read smoke, I knew we had structures and tires involved,” Rutherford told commissioners Thursday. “My immediate concern was the deputies driving in and getting trapped.”
Rutherford said after setting up a command post, he directed first responders to cut fences so animals could escape, then homeowners who initially refused to evacuate were persuaded to leave. As the smoke thickened, Rutherford said the Texas Forest Service sent airplanes and strike teams to assist.
“Within an hour, we had 100 emergency personnel on the scene,” Rutherford said.
The fire started on Roundup Trail off Hunters Road, then jumped to Pony Road and Saddle Drive. Rutherford said luck was with them when flames spread to overgrazed properties, which helped to slow the fire’s progress. Also helpful was air support that dropped fire retardant in areas where brush trucks could not reach. Manmade and naturally existing fire breaks further decelerated the blaze when it reached Elm Pass Road, which Rutherford called his “last stand.” Bandera Fire and Rescue remained onsite until the next day, in case spot fires grew or embers reignited.
“They worked hard all night,” Rutherford said, adding firefighters were striving for 100 percent containment and burn-out, due to 40 mph winds predicted the next day. “I can’t say enough about the local and state responders. We became a team and controlled the chaos. Nobody was killed.”
Rutherford said the fire was started by people grinding up an old RV to sell it, adding the case is still an ongoing investigation. He said 1,600 tires burned, which firefighters spent hours the next day turning and spraying with retardant. Six families were displaced from 11 destroyed structures, and sadly some animals did not escape.
Rutherford said it’s important to know the hard work that was involved in fighting and containing the fire, which Medina VFD firefighter Criss Wilson called “once in a lifetime.”
Responses and aid came from the Texas Forest Service, the Texas Interstate Fire Municipal Aid System, the Texas Department of Emergency Management, and two EMS teams; responding volunteer fire departments included Bandera, Pipe Creek, Lakehills, Castle Lake, Lake Shore, Centerpoint, Medina, Utopia, Vanderpool and Tarpley.
“That’s thousands of dollars in labor. People don’t realize in the county what we’ve got,” Pct. 4 Commissioner Jody Rutherford said. “Thank the Lord for them.”
Addressing other fires around the county, Rutherford said this year has been active, and is ahead of the pace set last year. Since January, he reported 15 brush fires, nine structure fires, and 16 “other” fires. He said many fires have been caused by grinding, welding and equipment. In unrelated fires, two people were injured, one of whom remains in intensive care.
Emergency Management Coordinator Judy Lefevers said her department has been focusing on preparedness, which can shorten response times.
“We’ve had an historical fire season so far. When the weather is like this, it’s about prevention,” Lefevers said, adding residents need to comply with burn bans, use spotters when welding is necessary, and use common sense, such as not throwing cigarettes out the car window and using extreme caution when barbecuing - which is not allowed on Red Flag Warning Days.
“From the recovery process, I can’t say enough about the Silver Sage. They were instrumental in making sure the displaced families had an immediate place to go,” Lefevers said. “All six families have been rehoused.”
A crawfish boil fundraiser is set for April 11 and 12, from noon to dark, at Mansfield Park, with proceeds benefitting Bandera County fire departments.
“Eat some crawfish and help our fire departments,” Pct. 1 Commissioner Troy Konvicka said.