Wildfires break out again: Blazes worked in Taylor, Nolan and Haskell counties
UPDATE
No structures had been lost as of Monday morning in three wildfires that broke out Easter Sunday in the Abilene area.
The separate fires burned about 2,000 acres combined, according to a Texas A&M Forest Service spokesman.
► Easter Blues Fire. White smoke could be seen in Abilene on Sunday afternoon from a wildfire near FM 89 a few miles west of U.S. Highway 277 and Coronado's Camp in southwest Taylor County.
Multiple volunteer fire departments responded, including ECCA, View, Mulberry Canyon and Buffalo Gap. Forest Service assistance was requested at about 4 p.m. Sunday, said Stuart Morris, Forest Service regional wildland urban interface coordinator.
The Forest Service reported initially at about 5:45 p.m. that the wildfire was about 200 acres and had zero containment. In coordination with the ground fire crews, the Forest Service provided air support to suppress the blaze and dozers and other equipment to create break lines.
As of Monday morning, the wildfire in rough terrain had grown to 300 acres with 50% containment, Morris said.
► Nina Lucia Fire. Maryneal volunteer firefighters were assisted by several other volunteer agencies Sunday afternoon to contain a wildfire west of FM 1170 in the southwest corner of Nolan County.
The Forest Service also responded about 7:30 p.m. with aircraft and ground equipment to assist in extinguishing the blaze and containing its progress.
The fire had grown from about 200 acres to 500 acres as of 11:15 p.m. Sunday, with about 25% containment, the Forest Service reported.
Fire crews made efforts overnight to slow the fire's progress. As of Monday afternoon, the fire had burned 650 acres and was 75% contained, Morris said.
► Stag Fire. The wildfire was located in southern Haskell County west of FM 600 and south of Lake Stamford.
The Stamford and Haskell VFDs initially responded to the wildfire, and the Forest Service was requested at about 8 p.m. Sunday to provide ground and air support.
As of Monday morning, the 1,058-acre wildfire was 95% contained, Morris said.
"The Stag fire is only being patrolled for right now and is showing very little activity," he said Monday.
Wildfire outlook this week
The Big Country remains dry, with a large amount of dried grass and trees that can turn into ground fuel and ignite quickly if a fire breaks out.
Predictive Services with the Forest Service forecasts an elevated fire danger for the Abilene area Wednesday and Thursday, when temperatures hit the upper 90s and winds increase.
The area of concern runs along and west of Childress, Abilene, San Angelo and Ozona.
ORIGINAL STORY
No structures have been lost as of Monday morning in three wildfires that broke out Easter Sunday in the Abilene area and burned about 2,000 acres combined.
► Easter Blues Fire. White smoke southwest of Abilene could be seen Sunday afternoon from the Easter Blues Fire, located on Farm to Market 89 a few miles west of U.S. Highway 277 and Coronado's Camp.
The wildfire was about 200 acres and had zero containment when the Forest Service reported at about 5:45 p.m. that it was responding with air support and other assets.
As of about 1:45 a.m. Monday, the wildfire in rough terrain had grown to 300 acres with 50% containment, according to the Forest Service wildfire map. The fire was moving north/northeast.
► Nina Lucia Fire. The Forest Service responded about 7:30 p.m. Sunday to a request for assistance to the fire west of Farm to Market 1170 and Mary Neal in the southwest corner of Nolan County.
The fire had grown from about 200 acres to 500 acres as of 11:15 p.m. Sunday, with about 25% containment, the Forest Service reported.
► Stag Fire. The wildfire was located in southern Haskell County west of Farm to Market 600 and south of Lake Stamford. As of 4:50 a.m. Monday, the 1,058-acre wildfire was 95% contained, the Forest Service reported.
More: Abilene Fire Department confirms there have been more fires so far in 2022
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 again: Blazes worked in Taylor, Nolan and Haskell counties
