Wildfires burn in Spring, 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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Montgomery Co. firefighters to aid in wildfires

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Montgomery County firefighters were called late Friday for help battling a wildfire ravaging acres of land in NorthTexas.

About 10 firefighters from Willis New Waverly, Needham and Porter fire departments left late Friday to head to North Texas, said Shane Howser with the North Montgomery County Fire Department. They expect to stay there for five to seven days. Howser says the group leaving who left Friday includes a team leader and firefighters driving four booster trucks. The booster trucks are smaller firefighting vehicles than can go off road. Wildfires are sweeping across hundreds of thousands of acres in Texas and destroyed dozens of homes. One firefighter has died, hundreds of people have evacuated. Fire officials said late Friday that the blazes spanned about 655 square miles of parched grasslands, fueled by strong winds. A 20,000-acre fire destroyed about 30 homes as it burned around Possum Kingdom Lake, a popular recreation spot about 120 miles west of Dallas. Three large fires burning in Wichita County, about 150 miles northwest of Dallas, had destroyed about 30 homes. A military housing complex near Sheppard Air Force Base was evacuated for two hours but no buildings were damaged. Authorities say Eastland firefighter Gregory M. Simmons died while battling a separate 3,000-acre blaze. No other injuries have been reported but several towns have been evacuated.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)

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Houston area could be at risk for wildfires

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Hot and dry conditions, along with high winds, are putting firefighters under pressure as they face wildfire after wildfire in parts of Texas, but what is the risk like locally?

People with the Texas Forest Service said Sunday was the single worst fire day the state has ever seen.

Firefighters from 25 states were called in to help put out the blazes, but they had difficulty getting a handle on the fires because of high winds.

Most of the major fires were out in west Texas as of Sunday night. The largest has burned more than 71,000 acres.

The fire danger is not limited to western areas of the state, however. The risk is high throughout Texas, including locally. Although none of the wildfires are here, the Texas Forest Service is keeping close watch.

Some residents are being watchful as well. Jeannine Varela is one of many Montgomery County homeowners keeping a close eye on the conditions outside. She lives near Jacobs Reserve where conditions are both dry and windy.

"We have a lot of trees and brush, so it could go up in quite a quick time," Varela said.

"Any little spark can turn into a major fire catastrophe," said Ray Uballe, a resource specialist with the Texas Forest Service. "Every day that goes on without moisture, it's just going to get even worse."

Officials are encouraging people in rural areas to refrain from lighting campfires and burning garbage or leaves.

"Right now, messing with any kind of fire can actually get away from you with these high winds," Uballe said.

With the entire state of Texas under severe drought, resources from fire personnel to bulldozer crews are being brought in from Alabama, Arizona and New Mexico.

Uballe said they are preparing for the likelihood of more incidents, and he suggests that people who live in wooded or rural areas should prepare as well.

"Be aware that it could happen, and if it does, just evacuate and get out," Uballe said.

Evacuation is something Varela has already thought out.

"We will load everything up and head out," she said.

There was no burn ban in effect for Harris County as of Sunday night, but we could see more burn bans enacted throughout the state in the days to come.

Stay with Eyewitness News and abc13.com for the latest on the wildfires and the drought. We'll also bring you updates on Facebook and Twitter.

(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) 

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