Fire burns many structures in Cross Plains; residents forced to leave
By Celinda Emison / Reporter-News Staff Writer
December 27, 2005
Updated 7:10 p.m. Residents of Cross Plains fled into Brown County and other places Tuesday after being told they must leave their town because of a massive fire.
Cross Plains residents who gathered at the E-Z Mart convenience store at Highway 279 north of the Lake Brownwood bridge Tuesday evening said a number of buildings in their town had burned, including a church, a store, a school and homes. They said they were ordered to leave Cross Plains.
Unknown was the fate of Cross Plains' most notable site, the home of pulp fiction writer Robert E. Howard, creator of Conan the Barbarian and other characters. An annual event celebrating the life and career of Howard is one of the largest activities in Callahan County each year.
A steady stream of vehicles, some laden with furniture, some containing only people and their pets, gathered at E-Z Mart, one of the first places to pull off the highway south of Cross Plains.
Cross Plains resident Mike McClure said that the smoke around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday was so thick near his home that he could hardly see to get inside to rescue his three dogs. They made it out safely.
"This is a firestorm," he said.
Greg Hutchins, whose home was a mile east of Cross Plains, took a few valuables and family photos from the house before the fire reached it.
"It's gone," Hutchins said.
A tearful Brenda Willars was evacuating her family to Brownwood. She believed her house was destroyed.
"All I saw was flames," she said. She was unable to rescue several cats, dogs and sheep.
Tonie Kemp, 13, said he heard propane tanks exploding throughout Cross Plains.
Cross Plains is about 47 miles southeast of Abilene, and about 34 miles northwest of Brownwood. The population is about 1,070.
Posted 6:50 p.m. An uncontrolled grass fire has forced the evacuation of residents in the city of Cross Plains, located about 40 miles southeast of Abilene.
Abilene Reporter-News staff members are in the area to provide further details to this developing story.
http://www.reporter-news.com/abil/nw_local/article/0,1874,ABIL_7959_4345110,00.html
) 
