Fire warning: Eastland Complex wildfires grow with new outbreak near Cross Plains
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MONDAY UPDATES: Wildfires in Eastland, Brown other Big Country counties
New wildfires developed in Eastland and Brown counties Sunday, while work continued to protect lives and property from fires that have burned more than 54,000 acres in recent days.
The Texas A&M Forest Service reported early Sunday afternoon a 100-acre fire with 5% containment just northeast of Cross Plains and just inside the southwest corner of Eastland County.
The new fire, named Blowing Basin Fire, had grown to 250 acres (10% contained) as of about 3:15 p.m.
An evacuation order was issued at about 2:30 p.m. for residents in that area.
A grass fire also broke out Sunday in Brown County near U.S. Highway 67/84 and Farm to Market 585. Local agencies were responding, and the fire as of press time had not been issued Forest Service support.
An evacuation order was issued just before 5 p.m. for property south of Lake Brownwood. The evacuation area is from Farm to Market 2632 south to Farm to Market 2125, and also up through 4 miles north of Farm to Market 2632 on Farm to Market 2125.
A fire also broke out near State Highway 6 between Cisco and Eastland (north of Interstate 20), prompting evacuations Sunday afternoon, according to the Eastland Fire Department. The Forest Service dubbed the outbreak Cedar Mountain Fire (50 acres, 0% containment as of 4:30 p.m.)
The Cedar Mountain Fire started about 3 p.m. on the north side of Interstate 20 and spread north to State Highway 6 and Cisco, the Eastland FD reported. Local firefighters responded to the very active fire energized by high winds and low humidity. The fire jumped SH 6 and is burning towards the northwest.
The Snyder Volunteer Fire Department responded Sunday to a wildfire south of the city near the Lake J.B. Thomas. About 250-300 acres were burned.
Update on Eastland Complex fire
State agencies have added the Blowing Basin Fire to the Eastland Complex fires, which includes three wildfires in Eastland and one in Brown County that were first reported late Thursday afternoon.
The Forest Service reported Sunday morning the following progress on the other Eastland Complex fires:
► Kidd Fire: 42,333 acres, 25% contained. Impacted areas include Carbon and Gorman. The fire has burned 142 structures, but a differentiation between houses and outbuildings is not available yet.
► Wheat Fire: 7,268 acres, 40% contained. Fire crews are improving containment lines and mopping up. Impacted area is northwest of Rising Star.
► Oak Mott Fire: 4,031 acres, 60% contained. Impacted area is southeast of Rising Star.
► Walling Fire: 383 acres, 100% contained. Impacted area is west of Nimrod.
The 8,100-acre Crews Gap Fire that started early last week near State Highway 153 and the Runnels-Coleman county line is 90% contained, as of Sunday afternoon, the Forest Service said.
Arrest in Ranger, Texas fire
A man has been arrested in connection with a fire that ravaged Ranger Thursday, burning 11 buildings.
Robert James was arrested Saturday on five counts of state jail felony arson after warrants were issued, according to a news release from the Ranger Police Department.
An investigation determined that the fire originated in the 400 block of South Marston, the release said.
The investigation continues.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The Eastland County District Attorney's Office announced April 4, 2022, that charges against James were dropped following review of a Texas Rangers investigation report into the Ranger fires.
More: Ranger's Second Baptist Church, damaged in series of fires, plans to rise again
Laura Gutschke is a general assignment reporter and food columnist and manages online content for the Reporter-News. If you appreciate locally driven news, you can support local journalists with a digital subscription to ReporterNews.com.
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Wildfires in Eastland, Brown, and more Texas counties continue to grow
