December 28, 2011
By: Bruce Berry
Many residents in Bastrop, Texas, are moving through the rebuilding process after their homes were destroyed in the most damaging wildfire in the state's history.
The massive fire scorched more than 30,000 acres of land and left more than 1,600 homes in ruin. The Associated Press says roughly 7 percent of Bastrop County residents lost their homes during the blaze.
While many residents have not moved back to the area following the incident, others are using their home insurance money to rebuild quickly.
"We had hoped the last house would be our last house," former architect Marvin Beck, who's already drawn up plans for his new home, told the source. "Hopefully this one will be."
In addition to home insurance claim payments, officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency told the AP more than 3,000 people have applied for emergency assistance. More than 50 families in the county temporarily lived in FEMA trailers.
The Insurance Council of Texas says the Bastrop fire alone was more costly than any other wildfire season in the state's history. Its projected costs are $325 million.
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