Year later, tri-county wildfire victims make long strides

MAGNOLIA, TX (KTRK) -- At this time last year, we first introduced you to the Barr family. Despite losing nearly everything in the wildfires of 2011, the husband and wife adopted a family to help this Christmas. For them, many things have changed since last year, but one thing remains the same.

When we met Kay and Rocky Barr last Christmas, they were homeless.

"I still have hope that we'll do Christmas 2012," Kay told Eyewitness News then. "I need all the prayers that we can get."

Their house was ravaged by the tri-county fires. Still, they managed to make Christmas magical, not just for each other but for another family in the same position.

"I just want joy and happiness," Kay said.

Twelve months later, Kay Barr's Christmas prayers were answered.

"We finished one bedroom and one bathroom and then we moved in," Rocky said.

Her husband Rocky -- with help from family, friends and strangers -- has finished the outside of their new home.

"We're probably at 75 percent complete," he said.

And Kay will spend Christmas, with a house full of family -- not in a trailer or a motel -- but right where she belongs.

The last year hasn't come and gone without challenge -- cancer, deaths in the family and Rocky's own illness.

"After our interview last year, he had a double back-to-back stroke," Kay said. "So, this year has been two steps forward and 10 backwards a couple of times, but we persevere, just keep going."

Even with life still in flux, the Barrs never stopped giving. They adopted another family this Christmas.

"There was a lot of people who helped us and I know how appreciative I was, so I just, we need to give back too," Kay said.

We toured the Barrs' new digs.

"It's a big sense of accomplishment, when we drive up the road and there's our house, we're almost home," Rocky said.

And while there is a long road of rebuilding ahead, day by day they're getting there.

"My Christmas ornament there, "believe," it can happen. If you dream it, you can make it happen. It will all come together," Kay said.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Firefighters extinguish wildfire in Walker Co.

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Firefighters put out a large wildfire that erupted in Walker County Tuesday afternoon and prompted the evacuation of more than two dozen homes.

Walker County Emergency Management Coordinator Butch Davis said about 65 firefighters battled the fire, which burned 500 acres near Farm Road 230 and Bo Brown Road, north of Huntsville.

About 30 homes in Walker and Houston counties were evacuated, but those residents were given the OK to return to their homes by nighttime.

No one was injured and no buildings were damaged.

It's still unclear what started the fire.

The firefighters who battled this blaze were from several agencies, including the Texas Forest Service, the Walker County VFD and Houston County VFD. The Department of Public Safety also gave volunteer firefighters aerial support.

If you saw the smoke or fire from the fire and took a photo or video, email it to us at news@abc13.com.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Children rebuild playground destroyed by wildfire

  MAGNOLIA, TX (KTRK) -- The tri-county wildfire raged through Grimes, Montgomery and Waller counties last September, scorching thousands of acres, burning down homes and forcing mass evacuations.

A playground in Magnolia's Ranch Crest subdivision was part of what was burned to the ground. On Saturday, some of Montgomery County's youngest citizens came together and led an effort to rebuild it with Project HOPE.

You notice the devastation first -- scorched trees and grass. But look farther and you can see a little bit of hope.

"The park was all the bad things in the world, and when we rebuild it, it's going to be like hope brought back into our community," Noah Bryson, 11, said.

Magnolia ISD middle schoolers who are part of Project HOPE (Helping Others Play Everyday) were planting trees, spreading mulch and even shoveling dirt.

"It's the right thing to do, and I just want to help out my community," 10-year-old Logan Purbis said.

And he had plenty of help.

Parents and volunteers from local businesses and the Texas Forest Service were getting their hands dirty as well.

The kids earned a $15,000 grant for Project HOPE and collected $20,000 in donations to help pay for new playground equipment, benches, picnic tables and landscaping for the park.

"They need someplace to be a kid. So when we saw this park was burned, we saw the playground and we knew that we had to do something," 11-year-old Emily Ashlock said.

What once was an active playground serving children in several neighborhoods was left with a melted red plastic roof and a scorched play area. You can still see the charred and burned trees -- reminders of wildfires that swept through the area for three weeks last September.

Firefighter James Bryson helped contain the flames. Now he's watching his son, Noah, volunteer to rebuild the park.

"I had no idea what this little guy could do," Bryson said of his son. "Him and a bunch of his friends, a bunch of sixth and seventh graders. So, to me, it was a little bit overwhelming coming here."

"These kids have been an inspiration to me to not quit, to not give up," Cherrie Edwards said. "Adults tend to kind of become so mature or jaded and just not believe that dreams can really come true, and the kids have taught me that it can."

The participating students meet each week after school to participate in the Community Problem Solving Program, which is a branch of the Texas Future Problem Solving Program funded by the Texas Education Agency. Project HOPE is in the running for several national community service awards.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Smoke from wildfire blowing through Houston

  TEXAS CITY, TX (KTRK) -- Smoke from a wildfire in coastal Jefferson County is moving across Houston right now.

Air quality sensors are indicating "moderate" air quality in Houston now because of the smoke. We expect the plume to drift north and eventually disperse over the next few hours. Based on satellite data, the smoke seems to be coming from the McFaddin Wildlife Refuge in Jefferson County.

SkyEye HD was flew over the areas affected by the smoke. To see that raw video, click the player above. And if you got photos or video of the smoke, send it to us at news@abc13.com or upload it here: iWitness.abc13.com.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Wildfire in Polk, Trinity Counties prompts evacuations

This photo of the brush fire burning across Polk and Trinity Counties was sent to us by a viewer. If you see news happening, email a photo or video to us at news@abc13.com.

  HUNTSVILLE, TX (KTRK) -- A massive wildfire burning in Polk and Trinity Counties has forced several people from their homes.

The fire started around noon Friday and is consuming parts of the Davy Crockett Forest just northeast of Huntsville in Apple Springs.

Fire crews from both counties are battling the blaze. It has burned at least 14,000 acres, according to the Trinity County Sheriff's Office.

At last check, officials with the Texas Forest Service said it was only 20 percent contained.

Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for the Trevat, Nigton and Helmic communities.

A temporary shelter has been set up for those residents at a Groveton High School.

Two homes and six trailers have been destroyed by the fire. So far, there are no reports of any injuries.

It's not yet clear what caused this wildfire, but investigators suspect a wheel bearing on an 18-wheeler produced a spark that caused the blaze.

The fire is being called the "Bearing Fire" and is reportedly one of the largest wildfires ever in East Texas, according to the National Forest Service.

We'll keep following this story and bring you the latest updates on Eyewitness News and abc13.com.

If you can see the fire and can snap cell phone videos or photos without putting yourself in harm's way, please email them to us at news@abc13.com or upload them on our iWitness Reports page.

(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Wildfire threatens homes in Waller

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Two separate wildfires burned across our area on Friday. Both threatened homes, and at least one led to evacuations.

Fire threatens homes in Spring

In Spring, officials evacuated about 200 homes in the Breckenridge Forest subdivision due to a wildfire near Cypresswood Drive and Aldine Westfield Road. Residents were allowed to return to their homes around 5:30pm.

Texas Forest Service helicopters dropped fire retardant in the area all afternoon, but authorities say it was air drops from two C-130 planes that really kept the flames from spreading.

At one point, 60-foot fire walls were within 200 yards of homes. "The fire crews have gone back in with the grass trucks and the brush trucks, the air operations are going on, the dozers are still out in the field doing those fire breaks. So that will continue on through the night until we make sure that this fire is not going to spread anymore," said Lt. Dean Hensley of the Harris County Fire Marshal's Office. As many as a dozen fire departments were on the scene, and many crews were told to pull back. When the flames neared homes, residents were asked to evacuate.

Authorities drove through a section of the Breckenridge Forest subdivision, advising families in about 200 homes that it was time to get out. Gloria Marshall Elementary was among the structures threatened.

Chief Scott Schoonover of the Spring Volunteer Fire Department said the evacuations were precautionary in the event fire got past the fire line. Schoonover said the area is private property and a witness told them that about a year ago, the property was cleared and there's a lot of timber that has been cut down in the area. The chief said that downed timber helped speed the rate of the fire growth.

"Initially, it was about 15 acres when I got here, and it spread throughought the day; the heat, the drought conditions have really hampered operations," Harris County Fire Marshal's Office Lt. Dean Hensley said.

Bulldozers dug out fire lines to contain the blaze. Even though the fire was contained, still resident Adam Rodriquez was uneasy. "We don't know if it's been turned off, has it been contained, we don't know if it will ignite again or if we should stay here," he said. Investigators aren't sure how Friday's fire started, but the Harris County Fire Marshal's Office is investigating. A few minor injuries occurred, but those injured were treated and released on the scene, said Chief Schoonover. By Friday night, most firefighters left the scene, leaving the Spring Volunteer Fire Department to mog the hot spots overnight. Grass fire burns in Waller

Meanwhile, firefighters took on a large wildfire near Highway 290 and FM 2920 near Kickapoo in Waller.

Firefighters from five companies rushed to contain the fire that came dangerously close to several pastures and homes. Many families and the SPCA rushed in to save their livestock. "We called them out of the woods, gave them hay and cubes and tried to contain them right here so they don't get too close to the fire," neighbor Betty Schroeder said. That fire quickly spread across 75 acres. Investigators say the wind and dry conditions were too much to handle at times. They say the good news no homes were destroyed and no people or animals were hurt. However, the Harris County Sheriff's Office says some lanes of FM 2920 near Hwy 290 were closed due to smoke, and traffic was detoured away from the area.

The cause of this fire is still being investigated.

If you caught photos or video of either fire, you can upload them at iWitness.abc13.com or email them to news@abc13.com. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Crews battle wildfire in Montgomery County

Firefighters are battling an out-of-control wildfire in Montgomery County

  MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TX (KTRK) -- In Montgomery County, firefighters are battling an out-of-control wildfire.

Winds gusting up to 25 miles per hour keep pushing the fire northwest along the Montgomery-San Jacinto county line. The Texas Forest Service says the fire started near Cut and Shoot and has grown to about 200 acre -- most of it inside the Sam Houston National Forest. "We have a large woods fire. A very windy dry day on Memorial Day and we have several crawler tractors that are working on the fire and several helicopters also," said Ralph Cullom of the U.S. Forest Service. Crews had the fire contained to 150 acres before the flames jumped the line Monday night. Firefighters are trying to cut a new line in front of the flames. The Forestry Service says it does not know how this fire started. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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