West Texas Is Being Ignited By a Blaze of Little Wildfires
Wildfires are starting to crop up again, and this time they're happening from inside Abilene's city limits to nearly every county in West Texas. With the temperatures being in triple digits, the lack of rain, and general carelessness, destructive wildfires have been popping up everywhere.
I spoke with Ecca Volunteer Fire Department's Fire Chief Gary Young, and he informed me that nearly every volunteer fire department in West Texas has been out chasing down wildfires. Young recalled one particular group of fires that flared up between Abilene and Runnels County on Highway 83, all starting within minutes of each other.
He surmised, "I believe it may have been caused by someone pulling a trailer with a chain that might have been dragging, causing sparks."
The Abilene Fire Department was the first to respond to a roadside grass fire in southwest Abilene. The Buffalo Gap, Jim Ned, Lawn, Tuscola, Ovalo, Morrow, Ballinger, and several other volunteer fire departments responded to separate small acreage fires. One blaze destroyed several acres, a tractor, a pickup truck, and a barn before firefighters arrived.
Fire Chief Young's advice: "Be on the lookout because of the triple-digit temperatures and lack of rain. Everything has dried up and is super sensitive."
Many of the volunteer fire departments are needing funds to continue to operate. Even more important is the need for personnel. Young added, "If you've ever dreamed of wanting to be a firefighter, now is the time to reach out to your area's volunteer fire department and sign up, because we need you."
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