Grass, Wildfires Reported Around North Texas

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The information below is from the Texas A&M Forest Service.

A fast-moving fire in Kennedale burned nearly 100 acres Tuesday, damaging one business, and forcing police to briefly evacuate some homes.

It took three hours and help from multiple agencies to contain the fire as 40 mile-per-hour wind gusts fueled flames off Kennedale Parkway.

Around 3 p.m. Kennedale police went door-to-door in the Pine Meadows neighborhood and urged people to evacuate. An hour later, firefighters said the threat was over and people who evacuated could return to their homes.

According to Everman Fire Chief Landon Whatley, a wielding business along Kennedale Parkway was damaged.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Wildfire activity is expected to increase through Wednesday as an active weather pattern aligns with dry vegetation across the landscape.

A fast-moving fire in Kennedale burned nearly 100 acres Tuesday, damaging one business, and forcing police to briefly evacuate some homes.
A fast-moving fire in Kennedale burned nearly 100 acres Tuesday, damaging one business, and forcing police to briefly evacuate some homes.

A strong front will move across the state bringing increased winds, temperatures and fire danger in cured grasses across the landscape for western portions of the state, including the areas in the High Plains and Rolling Plains around Wichita Falls, San Angelo, Lubbock and Amarillo.

Over the past seven days, state and local resources responded to 176 wildfires that burned 8,418. The uptick in activity was the result of increased wind speeds over dry fuels.

In preparation for potential wildfire activity this week, Texas A&M Forest Service has fully staffed task forces and suppression equipment staged in Childress, Amarillo, Lubbock, San Angelo, Burkburnett, Fredericksburg, Smithville, McGregor, San Angelo and Mineral Wells.

Additional agency personnel and overhead, including incident commanders with advanced qualifications, are prepositioned across areas of concern.

"Rapid response and the use of appropriate resources is essential in preventing large, destructive wildfires," said Wes Moorehead, Texas A&M Forest Service Fire Chief. "Our agency strategically prepositions personnel and equipment across areas of concern where they can respond to requests for assistance from local fire departments who serve as Texas' first line of defense."

Two large air tankers, three single-engine air tankers, two type 3 helicopters, two air attack platforms, and two aerial supervision modules are staged in the state to assist with wildfire response efforts.

Texas A&M Forest Service and the Texas Division of Emergency Management also worked together to mobilize three strike teams via Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS) to provide wildfire incident support.

"Texas A&M Forest Service will continue to work closely with our state, federal and local partners in order to protect Texas' citizens and natural resources from wildfire," said Al Davis, Texas A&M Forest Service Interim Director. "We also ask the public to be careful and prevent wildfire ignitions this week."

Texas A&M Forest Service encourages the public to avoid outdoor activities that may cause a spark while warm, dry, and windy conditions are present.

For current conditions and wildfire outlook, visit the Texas Fire Potential Outlook.

Texas A&M Forest Service does not own any aviation resources but instead uses federal aviation contracts through the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management for all firefighting aircraft.

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