Wildfire close to Abilene

We are waiting for rain and it's not coming. So we are in fire danger as this video clearly indicates.



A large brush fire continued burning into the night about six miles northeast of Hawley.

Lt. Greg Goettsch, of the Abilene Fire Department, said it is believed seven homes have been destroyed along with numerous other buildings and vehicles.

The fire, which began in Jones County near the southwest end of County Road 335, is estimated to have burned 2,500 to 3,000 acres.

Goettsch said there were no reported injuries. Officials estimated that the fire was about 50 percent contained as of late Thursday night.

Jones County declared a local state of disaster.

Brandon Newton, whose home was near where the fire started, was spared from the flames.

The Nugent Baptist Church youth minister had flames burn within feet of the west side of his home before the fire shifted to the north and went around the home.

“I talked to a couple of church members. A few of them lost cattle in the deal,” said Newton, who also works for UPS and is a carpenter.

Newton said that the fire did not reach the church but that he lost an empty trailer, woodshed and old pickup truck to the blaze. With a few smoldering hot spots on his land, Newton said he would monitor his land through the night.

People in the path of the fire were encouraged to evacuate their property Thursday afternoon.

One rancher said saving cattle was his biggest concern.

“We gathered all the cows off of (the land) and got them gone,” said local rancher David Hatfield. “That was our No. 1 concern. From there on (we were) just trying to move as much as possible.”

The temperature reached a high of 82 degrees as winds of 15 to 20 mph pushed the fire northeast toward FM 600.

The high today is expected to be around 80 degrees with winds of 10 to 15 mph from the west and southwest.

The fire was contained on the west side of FM 600 as firefighters from departments around Abilene battled to contain the fire on its north side. Engines from about 15 departments such as Abilene, Hawley, Hamby, Baird, Eula, Clyde, Stamford and Anson were at the scene along with the Texas Forest Service.

A control station was set up about three miles north of FM 600 and Ranch Road 1082.

Local Department of Public Safety and sheriff’s officers blocked traffic going into the path of the fire.

Goettsch said about 60 emergency response personnel helped in the efforts.