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Texas Gov. Declares Grass Fires a Disaster
Texas is in worst drought since the 50's.
Books are written about those times. Notably, The Time It Never Rained by Elmer Kelton
Books are written about those times. Notably, The Time It Never Rained by Elmer Kelton
By MATT CURRY, Associated Press Writer
4 minutes ago
KENNEDALE, Texas - Dozens of grass fires burned across an unusually warm and windy Texas on Tuesday, destroying homes, forcing evacuations, and prompting Gov. Rick Perry to deploy state firefighters and issue a disaster declaration. In Oklahoma, the fires also damaged several homes and three people suffered minor injuries, authorities said.
Perry's office said 73 fires were being fought around the state as of Monday, mostly in North and Central Texas. His office didn't have an updated number Tuesday because the situation is "in flux." There were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths.
"To better ensure our ability to immediately respond to these fast-moving fires, I have ordered the deployment of Texas Army National Guard assets and requested assistance from the U.S. Forest Service," Perry said in a statement.
One of the largest fires was in Kennedale, a bedroom community of about 6,100 people just south of Fort Worth. Large plumes of white smoke rose above the town. Television footage showed homes damaged, outbuildings in flames and residents spraying hoses and dumping buckets of water at the fire.
Fort Worth Fire Department Lt. Kent Worley said the department was helping battle the blaze in Kennedale, which jumped U.S. Highway 287 and prompted officials to temporarily shut it down.
In Arlington, fires threatened new housing developments and apartment complexes. Strong winds were the biggest obstacle for about 20 firefighters trying to contain the blaze, Deputy Fire Marshal Keith Ebel said.
"It's like trying to stop a 30-mile-per-hour car coming down the street," Ebel said. "The wind is the worst enemy right now."
Ebel said officials have expected wild fires because Texas has suffered through such a dry year.
"It was a matter of time this was going to happen," Ebel said. "By no means are we out of the woods. This fire's just occurred in one small area of town. We have a whole lot of other areas."
In Hood County, southwest of Fort Worth and Tarrant County, a fire near Canyon Creek forced at least 100 people to evacuate, said Jerry Lind, chief deputy for the Hood County Sheriff's Office. He said several structures were on fire, and propane tanks have exploded.
North Texas was under a
National Weather Service "red flag warning," meaning unusually warm and windy conditions could cause blazes to spread rapidly. The warning was issued because of strong winds, low humidity and extremely dry conditions.
"We've got fires burning structures in several counties," said Tracy Weaver of the Texas Forest Service. "It is just critically, critically dry out there right now."
Cities where fires were reported included Colleyville, Boyd, Joshua and Denton. Blazes were also reported in counties including Parker, Hood and Tarrant.
Perry's office said the wildfire threat level is expected to remain high for the next 30 days. According to the governor's office, 114 fires in 39 counties have burned 10,000 acres in Texas during December.
Perry's disaster declaration activates the state emergency management plan and authorizes the deployment of any forces, equipment or supplies required for the response.
The governor deployed four Texas Army National Guard helicopters, and obtained two air tankers and two helicopters from the U.S. Forest Service.
In Oklahoma, TV station helicopter footage showed at least a half-dozen structures were burned in Mustang, but conditions appeared to improve by late afternoon, when fire crews brought the flames under control.
"We've still got some hot spots that we're concerned about," Mustang Police Chief Monte James said.
He said firefighters battled flames at four houses and sheds. One firefighter was being treated at a hospital for smoke inhalation.
After the flames passed, residents emerged and were "watering their yards and standing in their yards," said Harold Percival, who lives about a mile from the Mustang fire.
4 minutes ago
KENNEDALE, Texas - Dozens of grass fires burned across an unusually warm and windy Texas on Tuesday, destroying homes, forcing evacuations, and prompting Gov. Rick Perry to deploy state firefighters and issue a disaster declaration. In Oklahoma, the fires also damaged several homes and three people suffered minor injuries, authorities said.
Perry's office said 73 fires were being fought around the state as of Monday, mostly in North and Central Texas. His office didn't have an updated number Tuesday because the situation is "in flux." There were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths.
"To better ensure our ability to immediately respond to these fast-moving fires, I have ordered the deployment of Texas Army National Guard assets and requested assistance from the U.S. Forest Service," Perry said in a statement.
One of the largest fires was in Kennedale, a bedroom community of about 6,100 people just south of Fort Worth. Large plumes of white smoke rose above the town. Television footage showed homes damaged, outbuildings in flames and residents spraying hoses and dumping buckets of water at the fire.
Fort Worth Fire Department Lt. Kent Worley said the department was helping battle the blaze in Kennedale, which jumped U.S. Highway 287 and prompted officials to temporarily shut it down.
In Arlington, fires threatened new housing developments and apartment complexes. Strong winds were the biggest obstacle for about 20 firefighters trying to contain the blaze, Deputy Fire Marshal Keith Ebel said.
"It's like trying to stop a 30-mile-per-hour car coming down the street," Ebel said. "The wind is the worst enemy right now."
Ebel said officials have expected wild fires because Texas has suffered through such a dry year.
"It was a matter of time this was going to happen," Ebel said. "By no means are we out of the woods. This fire's just occurred in one small area of town. We have a whole lot of other areas."
In Hood County, southwest of Fort Worth and Tarrant County, a fire near Canyon Creek forced at least 100 people to evacuate, said Jerry Lind, chief deputy for the Hood County Sheriff's Office. He said several structures were on fire, and propane tanks have exploded.
North Texas was under a
National Weather Service "red flag warning," meaning unusually warm and windy conditions could cause blazes to spread rapidly. The warning was issued because of strong winds, low humidity and extremely dry conditions.
"We've got fires burning structures in several counties," said Tracy Weaver of the Texas Forest Service. "It is just critically, critically dry out there right now."
Cities where fires were reported included Colleyville, Boyd, Joshua and Denton. Blazes were also reported in counties including Parker, Hood and Tarrant.
Perry's office said the wildfire threat level is expected to remain high for the next 30 days. According to the governor's office, 114 fires in 39 counties have burned 10,000 acres in Texas during December.
Perry's disaster declaration activates the state emergency management plan and authorizes the deployment of any forces, equipment or supplies required for the response.
The governor deployed four Texas Army National Guard helicopters, and obtained two air tankers and two helicopters from the U.S. Forest Service.
In Oklahoma, TV station helicopter footage showed at least a half-dozen structures were burned in Mustang, but conditions appeared to improve by late afternoon, when fire crews brought the flames under control.
"We've still got some hot spots that we're concerned about," Mustang Police Chief Monte James said.
He said firefighters battled flames at four houses and sheds. One firefighter was being treated at a hospital for smoke inhalation.
After the flames passed, residents emerged and were "watering their yards and standing in their yards," said Harold Percival, who lives about a mile from the Mustang fire.
A mobile home sits completely engulfed in flames in South Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2005. Grass fires driven by gusty wind damaged several homes in Oklahoma and threatened others in North Texas on Tuesday.
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