Crews Have Large, 4-Alarm Grass Mostly Extinguished In Kennedale
KENNEDALE, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) - More than 70 firefighters from 16 North Texas fire departments converged on Kennedale to put out a large 4-alarm grass fire Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 15.
It's happening in southern Tarrant County near E. Kennedale Pkwy. at Little School Road not far from a site where there are propane tanks.
The fire, believed to have burned 75 to 100 acres, had been contained as of 4:30 p.m. after being reported shortly before 2:00 p.m.
Shortly after 9:00 p.m. the Rendon Fire Department said, "The majority of the active fires have been extinguished. Extensive mop up and overhaul is underway."
Earlier in the day, the Everman fire chief talked about the challenges in putting out the fire.
"We've got high winds, we had limited access, heavy vegetation, heavy woods, train track separated," said Everman Fire Chief Landon Whatley. "Train came through in the middle of firefighting operations, made it difficult to access, crews still trying to get into deeper area of the woods."
The section of highway bordering the fire was shut down.
There is no word on any injuries, but at least one structure burned at Riley Machine and Welding in the 800 block of Kennedale Pkwy.
At one point, there were some very loud pops and bangs coming from one of the buildings, CBS 11 photojournalist Billy Sexton said from the scene at 4:00 p.m.
It's not clear what started the grass fire.
The area is under a burn ban.
The city of Kennedale at one point urged residents who live and/or work near the area that is burning that if they need to evacuate, the Senior Center, at 420 Corry A. Edwards, is open to the public until the fire is contained.
The Texas A&M Forest Service warned wildfire activity was expected to increase through Wednesday as an active weather pattern aligns with dry vegetation across the landscape.
During the past seven days, state and local resources responded to 176 wildfires that burned 8,418.
Grass fires were also burning in Hood and Erath Counties Tuesday afternoon.
The Texas A&M Forest Service dropped water from an airplane near Morgan Mill.
