Young County first responders fight 787-acre wildfire over weekend

Young County firefighters and the Texas A&M Forest Service battled a 787-acre wildfire which started Friday and was not contained until late Sunday between FM 1769 and N Hwy. 16. Along with the Martin fire in Young County, the forest service also responded to 29 other wildfires around the state from Thursday through Sunday.

The Fort Worth National Weather Service issued an elevated fire weather threat warning for north and central Texas starting Wednesday, Jan. 12, with above normal warmth condition as well as increased winds. Winds were expected to gust as high as 45 mph as the threat of grass fires increased west of I-35.

Young County Sheriff Travis Babcock warned the community Friday, Jan. 14, of a fast-moving grass fire that had broken out on N Hwy. 16 and was moving south on the Archer and Young County line. The sheriff stated agencies were responding, but asked for the community to be aware of their surrounding as the fire moved.

All Young County Volunteer Fire Departments as well as departments from Graham, Windthorst, Archer County and   Scotland responded to the fire, according to Babcock.

For the rest of the story, see the Jan. 19 edition of The Graham Leader.