Jan 29, 2008 12:31 pm US/Central
Grass Fires Destroy Houses, Burn Hundreds Of Acres
FORT WORTH (CBS 11 News) ―
Strong winds and dry conditions fueled grass fires across the area Tuesday, destroying several houses and burning hundreds of acres.
The damage was widespread.
Just north of the small Parker County town of Reno, a fire destroyed several houses. Two to three houses were affected by a fire in Azle, also in Parker County, but the extent of the damage is not yet known. Parker County firefighters battled 10 blazes, including one caused by trash burning.
Another fire burned in the Town of Paradise in Wise County. The Wise County Sheriff's Department says it destroyed 15 houses and many outbuildings. That fire reportedly burned 800 acres before it was extinguished.
Two fires were burning in the Benbrook area. Homeowners in the Whitestone community were asked to evacuate.
A fire in Wise County is reported to have destroyed at least ten houses. Farther west in Nolan County, a fire near the town of Maryneal was said to be 200 acres.
Some 550 acres caught fire in Denton County. One blaze started near I-35, causing officials to shut down the interstate. While there are still smoldering spots across the county all lanes have reopened. Denton County fire officials say there were no injuries or structural damage as a result of the fires.
The Red Cross is responding to several of these fires, and is opening evacuation centers in Springtown and Boyd.
152 counties in Texas are under a burn ban. That's more than half the counties in the state.
Despite the fires, just two people were reported injured, both at the Benbrook fire. One firefighter suffered smoke inhalation. Another person was injured by driving into a fire truck.
Two CH47 Chinook helicopters were on standby in Grand Prairie, ready to drop water on the fires, said Allison Castle, a spokeswoman for Gov. Rick Perry. But crews were waiting for a break in the wind before taking off.
Six UH60 Blackhawk helicopters were on standby in Austin and San Antonio to deploy as needed. Two of those had been dispatched to Burnet, northwest of Austin.
Gov. Rick Perry has activated the state's Emergency Operations Center at level one, the highest level, his spokeswoman Allison Castle said. "We take the threat of wildfires very seriously," she said.
In Callahan County, between Weatherford and Abilene, a 300-acre fire jumped a road and continued spreading. It destroyed several buildings after about 80 families were evacuated, said County Judge Roger Corn and Texas Forest Service officials.
Flights leaving DFW Airport had been delayed as much as 30 minutes, while incoming flights are still being delayed as much as 45 minutes. "It's an issue of safety for us," said airport spokesman David Magana. "When that wind is coming from your left or your right, it presents a danger." Travelers are urged to call ahead before heading out to any area airport.
We received an email from a cbs11tv.com user who said, "
The wind is amazing from high up on the 36th floor in downtown Dallas. We're used to the blinds swaying during high winds and storms, but today we can actually feel the building sway from all parts of the floor. Walls creak from time to time. There have been moments where light-headedness have affected even the toughest of us. Balls have rolled off desks. Really amazing stuff."In a news release, the City of Dallas said that the wind has also knocked out power at several intersections throughout the city. As many as 50 intersections are affected.
Significant power outages have also been reported in parts of Grapevine, Keller, Arlington and Rockwall due to high wind. As of 4:25 p.m., an estimated 26,000 homes and businesses are without power. Colleyville Heritage High School let its students out early because the wind knocked out the power to the school. Elementary schools in the Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District continued the day without power.
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
