Area, state units contain Young County wildfires
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(KYLIE BAILEY | THE GRAHAM LEADER) An Air Tractor Fire Boss scoops water out of Lake Graham to dump on the Cearley Fire which was in progress in Young County. The fire was determined to 855 acres and 100% contained as of Tuesday, Aug. 22. Young County, state and other municipal and county units joined in the containment efforts. -
(TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Smoke rises in the distance on the Cearley Fire which began Monday, Aug. 21. The fire was contained late the following day. -
(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Area units responded and began fighting the Shelton Ranch Fire as well as controlling traffic on Hwy. 114 where the fire was close to the road. The fire was estimated at 50 acres and was 100% contained late Tuesday, Aug. 22.
Two wildfires broke out this week in Young County which were contained by local and state resources. The Cearley Fire was an estimated 855 acres and the Shelton Ranch Fire was an estimated 50 acres.
The Cearley Fire broke out Monday, Aug. 21 and was first estimated at 150 acres before growing to an estimated 500 acres the same day with 0% containment. At around 3:30 p.m. Monday, Texas A&M Forest Service (TAMFS) received a request for assistance on the fire burning 10 miles northeast of Graham.
TAMFS and Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS) responded with aviation resources, heavy equipment and engines. Departments from Young, Wichita, Palo Pinto and Archer counties worked in unified command with TAMFS, Young County Sheriff’s Office and Texas Division of Emergency Management on the fire.
Voluntary evacuations were enacted for Cearley Road and Turtle Hole Road with closures on Hwy. 16 at Hwy. 114 and FM 2075.
Multiple dozers worked to construct containment lines around the fire. Engine crews performed structure protection along with mop-up operations and patrolled the containment lines. Aviation resources were also dropping retardant to slow the head of the fire and give ground crews time to construct containment lines.
“Engines from multiple local fire departments were able to slow down fire spread and protect multiple structures while aviation resources from Texas A&M Forest Service worked to lower fire activity using retardant and water from multiple types of air tankers and helicopters,” TAMFS wrote. “Heavy equipment was able to begin containment line construction once fire activity was diminished and completely lined the entire fire by the end of the night.”
Fire engines from local departments, TAMFS and TIFMAS worked around the perimeter of the fire to mop up heats to make sure there was no further fire spread in the night.
Containment efforts improved Tuesday, Aug. 22, as the updated containment was at 40%. Voluntary evacuations on Cearley Road and Turtle Hole Road were lifted and Hwy. 16 was reopened.
Forward progress was stopped and containment lines were completed with crews continuing to mop up throughout the night and into the following day. TAMFS updated late Tuesday that the fire was estimated at 855 acres and 100% contained.
“All state resources have been released and the fire has transitioned back to the local units,” TAMFS stated.
There has been confirmation of multiple structures lost at this time, according to TAMFS. The department is working to determine the number and type of structures. Currently, the cause of the fire is listed as unknown.
The same day the Cearley Fire was contained, another fire broke out in Young County on Hwy. 114 near Rodgers Road. Area units responded and began fighting the Shelton Ranch Fire as well as controlling traffic on Hwy. 114 where the fire was close to the road. The fire was estimated at 50 acres and was 100% contained late Tuesday.
