Currently there are approximately 1,815 first responders being managed by the Texas Forest Service from 36 states assigned to Texas fires. This figure does not include Volunteer Fire Department responders.
Brownwood Fire Department is among those deployed to wildfires across the state and has been since early March. March 7th, Kyle Whitley and Jesse Castillo were deployed. March 22nd, Jody Horton and Ben Edwards were deployed. This week Lt. James LeMond, Justin Posey, Bradley Gilmore, & Ronald Groom are fighting these wildfires.
BFD also has personnel that are on the All Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT) that have been deployed to the fires. This team coordinates with all resources that are deployed for any incident. The first deployment was in February for the Camp Bowie staging. Fire Marshal Buddy Preston, Emily Gore, and Bill Thomas were activated. Then for the Merkel staging, FM Buddy Preston and Lt. James LeMond were activated. The 3rd staging was also in Merkel and Chief Albright and Lt. James LeMond were activated. In April, there was another Merkel staging and Captain Robert Myers was activated. This week, FM Buddy Preston has been activated for the AHIMT. All of the Merkel staging has been for the West Texas fires and the AHIMT decide were the TIFMAS truck crews are most needed for fire suppression.
Various volunteer fire departments from Brown County have also assisted in some of these fires in recent weeks. These firefighters should also receive thanks for the help they have been giving to fight these wildfires, in addition to their everyday careers and responsibilities.
Texas Forest Service has responded to the following new fires today:
NEW FIRES:
Newton County, No. 294 – 1 acre. Fire is reported to be contained and controlled.
Cherokee County, No. 135 – 3 acres. Fire is reported to be contained and controlled. Cause is under investigation.
Harrison County, No. 148 – 1 acre. Fire is reported to be contained and controlled.
Deaf Smith County, Adrian Fire – 1000 acres. One home threatened.
Yesterday, Texas Forest Service responded to 10 new fires for 2,184 acres. Since April 6th, Texas Forest Service has responded to fires that have burned more than one million acres.
The Southern Area Red Team, Type I Incident Management Team (IMT) (Wilder Team), assumed the management of the PK Complex Fire today.
The Florida Type II IMT (Florida Red Team) has been ordered to support East Texas.
A tanker base has been set up in Midland to support a DC-10 airtanker. Dyess Air Force Base has set up a tanker base to support the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) units on four USAF C-130s.
CARRYOVER FIRES:
PK Complex – 147,973 acres, 25 percent contained, 160 homes destroyed to date, Palo Pinto evacuation lifted at 3 p.m., air re-con was utilized on fire today. One Air Attack, four single-engine air tankers and three helitankers were engaged on the fire today supporting ground resources. Air Attack reports fire activity has died down with the rise in relative humidity values and favorable wind conditions.30% chance of rain in the area tonight. The Southern Area Incident Management Red Team is in place to assist with management of the PK complex of four fires in Stephens, Young, and Palo Pinto counties.
Harrison County, No. 148 – 1 acre. Fire is controlled. Cause was debris burning.
Tyler County, CR 4600 Fire (No. 285) – 130 acres. 100% contained. Cause under investigation.
Tyler County, No. 286 – 6 acres, controlled. Cause is under investigation.
Stephens County, Mossy Rock Ranch Fire – 800 acres, 90 percent contained.
Shackleford County, Sedwick Fire – 30 acres. Fire is 70 percent contained.
Jones County, CR 310 – 100 acres, 90 percent contained.
Jack County, Bryson Fire Complex, two fires – 7,500 acres. Initially, 14 businesses and 140 homes and outbuildings were threatened and 70 people were evacuated. 95 percent contained.
Motley County, Middle Pease Fire – 400 acres. No TFS resources on this fire today. 90 percent contained.
Tyler and Hardin Counties, Pipeline Fire (No. 260) – 7,000+ acres, fire had two heads at one time. Operations are progressing normally with crews working NW corner. Estimated 85 percent containment.
Wichita County, Wichita County Complex – 11,785 acres in 3 separate fires, 90% contained: Iowa Park West, Missile, and Holiday Fires. On the first day of this fire there were 7 homes and 6 out buildings lost with 27 direct saves. No TFS resources on this fire today.
Stonewall, Knox and King Counties, Swenson Fire – 122,500 acres, 90 percent contained.
Kent, Stonewall, Fisher and Scurry Counties – Cooper Mtn Ranch Fire. – 162,625 acres, 90 mile perimeter. 85% contained. There were 4 homes lost previously.
Eastland County, CR 104 – 2,000 acres, 5 homes and 1 vehicle previously destroyed. 85 percent contained.
Archer County, Dad’s Corner – 6,100 acres. Initially, 15 homes and oilfield infrastructure was threatened. 100 percent contained and controlled today.
Dimmit County, Diamond H Fire – 115 acres, 100% contained. May be declared controlled later today.
Lubbock County, Double Rainbow Fire – 50 acres, 100% controlled. No TFS resources on this fire today.
Garza County, Southwest Royalty Fire – 2,000 acres, 100% contained. Initially, 10 structures were threatened.
Jones County, North Hamlin Fire – 50 acres, 90% contained.
Jack County, Dewebber Fire – 20 acres, 100% contained. Initially, 120 structures were threatened.
Travis County, Pinnacle Fire – 100 acres. On Sunday 8 homes destroyed, 10 severely damaged. Fire is expected to be declared controlled soon according to a report earlier in the evening.
West, Missile, and Holiday Fires– On the first day of this fire there were 7 homes and 6 out buildings lost with 27 direct saves. No TFS resources on this fire today.
WEST TEXAS TRANS PECOS COMPLEX
The Southern Area Incident Management Blue Team is continuing to assist with management of active fires in the Trans Pecos Complex.
Coke County – Wildcat Fire north of San Angelo
Current acreage: 158,867 acres 10% contained
All evacuations have been lifted for this area. With winds predicted from the east/northeast, firefighter crews will focus on structure protection on the southwest flank of the fire as well as conduct mop up operations on the eastern flank. Aviation resources will continue to aid in suppression and establishing fire control lines.
Jeff Davis County – Rockhouse Fire near Ft. Davis
Current acreage: 200,302 acres 75% contained
Today firefighter crews will be developing and prepping roads NW of Boy Scout Camp Road, west along fence line and north along Nations Road to secure the perimeter on the NW flank. Crews will continue monitoring and patrolling as well as providing structure protection.
Crockett County – Sutton Fire near Ozona
Current acreage: 25,000 acres 70% contained
Fire crews will continue to monitor fire control lines and begin mop up operations.
Andrews County – Frying Pan Ranch Fire near Andrews
Current acreage: 80,907 acres 90% contained
Sutton County – McPherson Fire near Sonora
Current acreage: 2,307 acres 90% contained
Tom Green County – Encino Fire near Carlsbad
Current acreage: 12,659 acres 90% contained
Pecos County – Cannon Group near Iraan
Current acreage: 63,763 acres
Cannon Fire: 9,284 acres 90% contained
HR: 27,895 acres 90% contained
Little Smokey: 27,895 acres 90% contained
Yates Field: 300 acres 90% contained
THURSDAY’S FIRE WEATHER FORECAST
North-Northwest-West-Central-South Branches:
A stationary front will continue to extend across the central portions of the state today and this will continue to be the focus of scattered afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms. Most of the state will continue to experience more moist conditions over the next few days except for the western portions of the NW and W branch. The dry line wills set up from near Amarillo to Lubbock to Midland this afternoon and the SW winds will increase to 15-20 with gusts to 30 mph possible behind it. Critical fire weather conditions will prevail west of the dry line as they gusty winds combine with single digit RH’s. Temperatures will be very warm across the state ranging from the low 80s in the panhandle to around 100 in the Rio Grande Valley.
East Branch:
The cold front will continue extend across the central portions of the branch this afternoon with NE to SE winds at 10-15 G20 mph prevailing through most of the day. Minimum RH’s will remain in the 40 to 50 percent range through the day. Isolated thunderstorms will be possible mainly over the northern half of the branch this afternoon and evening.
