Fire departments across Gillespie County are responding to a 400-acre Crabapple fire near Fredericksburg Saturday afternoon.

As high winds blow through the South this weekend, thousands of acres of wildfires are raging in Texas. An outbreak of wildfires began in Texas on Friday as winds exceeded 30 miles per hour and dry land provided the ideal fuel.

Strong winds are pushing smoke and ash from the Crabapple Fire near Fredricksburg east toward Austin, according to the National Weather Service.

The Crabapple Fire has burned about 400 acres north of Fredericksburg and is zero percent contained, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.

According to Gillespie County officials, the Crabapple fire started in the 8700 block of Lower Crabapple Road at around 1 p.m. Saturday.