Governor Rick Perry skipped a in South Carolina to fly back to Central Texas as wildfires scorch thousands of acres.
鈥淚t was a surreal experience today,鈥� Perry said at a news conference with emergency management officials at the Bastrop Convention Center. 鈥淚 have seen a number of big fires in my life. This one is as mean looking as I鈥檝e ever seen, partly because it鈥檚 so close to the city.鈥�
The blaze that erupted in Bastrop on Sunday has burned at least 25,000 acres and destroyed 476 homes.
Texas has deployed a wide range of government assets to help combat the flames, Perry said. Those include:
- 15 single-engine air tankers
- 2 Chinook helicopters
- 4 Blackhawk helicopters
Perry said he was hoping to enlist the help of Department of Defense resources out of Fort Hood, particularly bulldozers and motograders that could clear a perimeter around the fire to prevent it from spreading.
Missing tonight鈥檚 town hall, hosted by U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina), meant that Perry lost a chance to make his case to a wide range of Tea Party conservatives.
鈥淚鈥檓 not paying any attention to politics right now,鈥� Perry said in response to a question on the issue. 鈥淧eople鈥檚 lives and their possessions are in danger, and that鈥榮 substantially more important.鈥� He received a round of applause from the emergency officials in the room.
Perry will still have plenty of chances to appeal to Tea Party voters. A is scheduled on Monday, September 15, and the Governor has been campaigning extensively in early primary states.
