A DAY-LONG WINDSTORM IN NORTH AND CENTRAL TEXAS yesterday whipped grass fires into fast-moving threats.
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Assoc. Press
The 50+ mph winds also brought down power lines and created havoc at the airports and on the highways. Several of the fires consumed over 1,000 acres and Parker County alone had 10 fires. In one Wise County community 28 homes have been lost.
In Nolan County two volunteer firefighters were injured when an 18-wheeler driver whose vision was impaired by the smoke rear-ended their vehicle, according to the sheriff’s office. One firefighter on top of the truck was thrown off, breaking his arm, while the other was taken to the hospital with a head and eye injury.
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Passersby stop to help herd cattle out of
the path of oncoming fire. (WFAA image)
The governor activated the state’s Emergency Operations Center at its highest level and the highway department deployed fuel trucks to refuel the fire engines on-site.
This follows Monday’s activities in the western part of the state where more than 10,000 acres burned. The Weather Service says that the high wind conditions will remain through the end of the week.
The Houston Chronicle has a REPORT.
WFAA-TV Dallas has posted 12 VIDEOS.
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