Apr 9, 2009 9:24 pm US/Central
Grassfires Torch Houses, Force Evacuations
Compiled from staff reports
NORTH TEXAS (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
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Wise County Fire As Seen From Chopper 11
CBS
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taken between Jacksboro and Bridgeport.
dtmadera (UGC)/CBS
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taken in Runaway Bay
dtmadera (UGC)/CBS
A series of fast-moving brush fires destroyed houses in Wise and Montague Counties Thursday afternoon. The Forest Service says more than two dozen fires were burning in the region at one point.
At 5:45 p.m, Jack County
authorities evacuated people in the towns of Post Oak and Bryson as the fires headed toward them.
In
Montague County, a complex of fires burned an estimated 25,000 acres.
The northern part of the town of Montague and the entire town of St. Jo were being evacuated. The fire destroyed several homes. At least five of those homes were in the town of Sunset, in southern Montague County.
The elementary school in Bowie was also evacuated because of the fire danger. And the Bridgeport ISD canceled home bus service for the afternoon.
The
Wise County Messenger reported that fire had destroyed at least three buildings there. Several homes burned as well, and as many as 60 residents fled their homes.
In Parker County, firefighters were battling flames near Hudson Oaks. People in some Hudson Oaks neighborhoods were evacuating voluntarily as more than 100 acres burned nearby. Officials say arcing power lines may have sparked that blaze.
A fire in
Wilbarger County
had reportedly burned 8,000 acres.
If you have photos or video of any of the fires,
you can upload them to our site yourself.
Lewis Kearney of the Texas Forest Service told CBS 11 News that the agency positioned firefighting teams Wednesday because of the danger of fires. But their helicopters and airplanes could not fly Thursday afternoon because of the high winds.
Kearney said about 300 firefighters from Texas and other states were fighting the fires across Texas. He also said there are at least 30 fires in Texas that the Texas Forest Service could not get to because of the number of fires throughout the state.
The American Red Cross says it is responding to several fires across North Texas. They have teams in Wise, Parker, Eastland, Palo Pinto, Archer, Clay, Jack and Wichita Counties.
Smoke from the fires could be seen on CBS 11's Doppler radar throughout the afternoon.
The smoke could be smelled in eastern Fort Worth by mid-afternoon and Dallas by late afternoon, blown in by the same high winds that drove the fires. Winds in the metro area were blowing at 35 to 35 MPH, with gusts to 45.
No injuries have been reported from any of the fires.
Three years ago, large grass fires burned hundreds of thousands of acres in the same part of North Texas and
virtually destroyed the Montague County town of Ringgold.
The Centers for Disease Control says smoke from brush fires can cause respiratory problems. Doctors say it usually starts with coughing and a scratchy throat.
Physicians say patients with lung and heart disease, older adults, young children and smokers should stay indoors. Those who have their asthma under control should pre-treat with an inhaler if they are going to be outside.
Click here for more information from the CDC.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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