The Crabapple Fire has put most parts of Central and South Texas under a "Red Flag Warning" as strong gusts of wind move throughout the region, breeding favorable fire conditions. Smoke billowing out of the blaze has been seen as far east as Bee Cave, Austin and Bastrop.

The 8,640-acre Crabapple fire near Fredericksburg, about an hour away from San Antonio, is now 40% contained, according to the officials.

A grass fire that started early Saturday afternoon near Fredericksburg was burning an estimated 8,640 acres as of around 6 p.m., spurring evacuations in the Central Texas community. While it’s not immediately clear what sparked the blaze,