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(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) A Young County Precinct 4 water truck and an Eliasville VFD truck spring into action following a grassfire on FM 209 jumping the road. The volunteer fire departments in the area quickly moved to stop the spread of the fire. -
(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) State and local fire units cut a fence Sunday, Sept. 21 to allow firefighters to move into an area where a grassfire had jumped FM 209. Local and state fire units quickly worked to stop the spread of the fire after it jumped the road. -
(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Young County volunteer fire departments spray water at a fire Sunday, Sept. 21 near FM 209 to stop the spread of the fire over the road. Many local firefighters worked throughout the day to help contain the fire. -
(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Texas Division of Emergency Management Young County Liaison Jarod Cook jumps out of his vehicle to stop a small fire. Cook, along with many other local and state firefighters, worked to contain the fire Sunday, Sept. 21.
Ground and air resources worked throughout the day Sunday to contain a grassfire which broke out on FM 209 west of FM 3109.
At around 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21, local firefighting units were dispatched to FM 209 for a report of smoke in the area. Volunteer fire departments from around the county showed up to assist in containing the fire.
Included among the first responders who assisted with the fire were Murray VFD, Newcastle VFD, Eliasville VFD, Olney VFD, Salt Creek VFD, Woodson VFD, the Young County Sheriff’s Office, Texas A&M Forest Service and the Young County area Texas Game Warden.
TAMFS, the state’s fire resource, was quickly dispatched to the fire and had bulldozers and several trucks and firefighters out to assist. Along with their ground crew, air resources made drops on the fire to assist with the containment.
Local and state crews were lined up down FM 209 as they attempted to stop the fire from spreading over the road. The units were attempting to stop the fire’s spread over the road due to the fact that, if it spread, it could have threatened structures.
The fire eventually jumped the road and volunteer and state units quickly moved their attack from one side to the other to stop the fire’s movement.
Along with the fire on FM 209, a fire structure fire broke out in Olney as severe thunderstorms and winds hit the area causing damage.
Additionally, state resources were also dispatched to a large grassfire in Jack County, later named the Spoon Fire, which was estimated at 114 acres and 60% contained as of 10:33 p.m. Sunday.
As of 4:23 p.m. Monday, Sept. 22, TAMFS had the Young County Belknap Fire at a size of 223.7 acres and 100% contained.
The Young County Commissioners Court voted Monday, Sept. 22 to enact a burn ban that will run through December unless terminated earlier by the court or the county judge.
The burn restrictions were enacted due to the public safety hazard present if burning was allowed.
All outdoor burning in the county is prohibited from the date of the order. A violation of the order is a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $500.
This order does not prohibit outdoor burning related to public health and safety authorized by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for firefighter training, burns prescribed by a prescribed burn manager or public utility, natural gas pipeline or mining operations.
Additionally, the order does not prohibit commercial or professional welding operations.
TAMFS placed the Texas Wildland Fire Preparedness Level at Level 2, with elevated danger observed in some regions of the state. Additional resources may be requested to assist in this level and aircraft could be staged within the state for fire response.
TAMFS states that 90% of wildfires are caused by people and their activities with debris burning and equipment use being the two major causes of wildfires in the state.
To prepare for wildfires, TAMFS suggests creating a kit with supplies, prescriptions, important papers, personal needs and priceless items as well as pet supplies.
State and Young County residents should also plan an evacuation route in a vehicle or cellphone.
