WFAA-TV
The blaze spread over several acres
at the Tarrant-Wise County line.
Posted on 12/27/2005 2:14:07 PM PST by indcons
MUSTANG, Okla. Dec 27, 2005 — Grass fires driven by gusty wind damaged several homes in Oklahoma and threatened others in North Texas on Tuesday. Three Oklahomans suffered minor injuries, authorities said.
The biggest fire burned at least a square mile in a rural area near the town of Mustang, southwest of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City Fire Maj. Brian Stanaland said. He said he did not know exactly how many homes were damaged there. One civilian suffered minor injuries.
TV station helicopter footage showed at least a half-dozen structures were burned in Mustang, but conditions appeared to improve by late afternoon.
"Everybody is out now watering their yards and standing in their yards," said Harold Percival, who lives about a mile from the Mustang fire.
Several other grass fires were brought under control in three areas of Oklahoma City. One firefighter suffered heat exhaustion and a child suffered minor burns on his hands when a shed caught fire.
In Texas, Fort Worth Fire Department Lt. Kent Worley said crews had fought nine brush fires within city limits during the first half of the day and he expected more. His department also helped battle a blaze in nearby Kennedale. The Dallas Morning News said flames in Kennedale threatened two apartment complex.
There were no immediate reports of injuries in Texas.
The cause of the Oklahoma blazes was under investigation, but officials said sparks from power lines were one possibility.
The wind in Oklahoma was clocked at 25 to 35 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph.
It's not just a rain issue. We have this in CA all the time. People move in and the range is not managed. It over grows, there's a drought, and then there's a fire with a lot of fuel.
Wish the best for all out there.
BTTT
Thanks for the update. Some FReepers are indicating that the fires in N. Texas are worse than originally thought.
We've been under a red fag warning here in N. Texas for most of a week.
Listening to the police scanner here in Coleman.
It's bad, most of our resources are fighting the Cross Plains fire and a major fire just broke out south of Coleman.
Several more burning in Coleman County, structures threatned etc.
Sky is hazy and smell very smokey.
Wind gusting to 50mph and not a drop of rain in over 2 months.
No problem, any word as to what started fires?
CNN reported "Worst Ever", but more recently said that most fires may now be under control.
My sister and her family live in Arlington, as does Txsleuth.
I'm still awaiting word from any of them.
No idea as yet.
The blaze spread over several acres
at the Tarrant-Wise County line.
Just turned on the news, and indeed, there are numerous backyards and fences on fires in a Kennedale subdivision(SE of Ft. Worth and next to Arlington.) Worse than expected, though winds are dying down, but supposed to pick up tomorrow. I-35 near Gainesville down to a crawl because of heavy smoke
Firefighter on the news saying that every case so far appears to be human caused (seemed to be saying negligent idiots, rather than arson.)
"Scary. I wonder if we have some firebugs on the loose."
This is serious, and it calls to mind something happened when I was in high school in Ponca City in 1961. Though from Phoenix, I moved there when my dad was transferred. That year, some of us were running around at night and turned a corner at high speed. There was a guy striking old fashioned kitchen matches and throwing them into a dry field of wheat.
He took off like a shot. Fortunately, the field did not catch fire. (We went back to make sure of that.)
For several months, there were several unexplained fires including a downtown variety store and a major drug store.
You have raised a good question.
Numerous trailer homes burned in S. Arlington/Kennedale, along with some new $200K+ large homes in another subdivision. Another big one in Boyd, TX, (2nd there in 2 days) and more than a dozen fires around DFW.
Texas Gov Declares Grass Fires a Disaster
By MATT CURRY, Associated Press Writer
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051227/ap_on_re_us/grass_fires;_ylt=Aip_Un0JKprtKZK.VT.uzmSs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ--
KENNEDALE, Texas - A wind-whipped grass fire burned buildings as it spread quickly across a Fort Worth suburb Tuesday, one of more than 70 wildfires around Texas that prompted Gov. Rick Perry to deploy state firefighters and issue a disaster declaration.
Perry's office said 73 fires were being fought as of Monday, mostly in North and Central Texas. His office didn't have an updated number of fires Tuesday because the situation is "in flux." There were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths in the fires.
"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. "We are working hard from both the ground and the air to protect Texans and their homes and property."
Thick white smoke rose above Kennedale, a bedroom community of about 6,100 people just south of Fort Worth. 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.
Terrie Owens, the chief's assistant at the 16-person Kennedale Fire Department, said no one was available to provide further details on the blaze.
North Texas was under a National Weather Service "red flag warning," meaning unusually warm and windy conditions could send such blazes spreading rapidly.
Many areas in the NWS warning area were rural. The warning was issued because of strong winds, low humidity levels 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.
The red flag alert will be in effect from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, winds will be in the 20 to 30 mph range. The temperature will reach about 82 degrees, coming close to or breaking the record high of 81 degrees set in 1971, said Dan Huckaby, a NWS meteorologist.
A cold front moving through North Texas on Tuesday night will cool the region down, but only to the high 60s.
I can see the smoke quite clearly from my kitchen window,...and there have been several homes burned down not far from my house...but, luckily the wind is blowing away from me...
BUT, the way these fires are popping up...we could be in trouble before the night is through.
Prayers for y'all.....hope the winds die down as the day progresses.
Stay Safe, and pack a bag. Also get pets somewhere you can get to quickly....just in case.
Get that garden hose ready!
What part of Arlington does your sister live in?
I am just barely north of Kennedale...yikes!
The biggest reason for these fires are the idiots who are setting off fireworks. The one thing I noticed here in Texas is there are fireworks stores everywhere!! Now, at least they can't sell rockets because of the fire danger. [some probably still will] The Governor just declared a state of emergency and is calling out the Nat'l Guard.
I smelled smoke earlier today and asked people about any news of a fire. They asked how I knew there was a fire, I said I'm from California and the smell of brush burning is one you never forget.
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