Congressman comes to area; Rock House Fire 70% contained

Marfa Volunteer Fire Department Chief Gary Mitschke on Sunday morning in front of the fire station gave U.S. Rep. Francisco Canseco an update on the massive fire that raged from Marfa past Fort Davis last week.

The San Antonio freshman Republican congressman who represents Far West Texas in Washington said he came to gain first-hand knowledge of the conflagration.

Meanwhile, the Texas Forest Service reports the wildfire, which it has named the Rock House Fire, was 70 percent contained and had consumed 165,000 acres as of Saturday evening.

Also in attendance at the quickly arranged meeting were Presidio County Commissioners Felipe Cordero and Buddy Knight.

Mitschke told the congressman the fire began west of town last Saturday afternoon and other than losing the house where the fire began, a ranch barn north of town, and lots of grassy pasture, Marfa and Presidio County had mostly been spared. The bulk of the damage occurred in Fort Davis, where as many as 30 homes were destroyed.

Mitschke, who also is the county’s emergency management coordinator, told Canseco that Marfa’s volunteer firefighting force responded professionally to blaze, as they do in all fires.

Volunteer firefighters can be as good as paid firefighters, the congressman said to Mitschke, who agreed, noting that both sets of firefighters get the same training at the Texas A&M firefighting school in College Station.

Canseco got a quick tour of the fire station and the department’s equipment, some of which is in need of repair. He stood in front of a water truck, the one with balding tires and no headlights.

After that brief orientation, officials jumped in the fire chief’s vehicle to visit the ignition point of the fire and then north of town where the fire swept last week.

The congressman was expected to meet with Jeff Davis County officials and Fort Davis firefighters on Sunday afternoon.

Here’s the latest from the forest service, including fires around the state:

WEST TEXAS TRANS PECOS COMPLEX

The Southern Area Incident Management Blue Team is continuing to assist with management of active fires in the Trans Pecos Complex.

* Jeff Davis County, Rockhouse Fire near Fort Davis: 164,879 acres 70 percent contained. Firefighters are continuing to holding operations and line construction.  South winds will require close monitoring of the northern and northwestern parts of the fire.

* Pecos County, Cannon Group –near Iraan – 41, 521 acres.

Cannon Fire: 9,248 acres, 80 percent contained

DHR: 26,284 acres, 60 percent contained

Little Smokey: 27,895 acres, 60 percent contained.

* Crockett County, Sutton Fire near Ozona – 4,248 acres,  50 percent contained

* Pecos County, Yates Field Fire near Iraan – 300 acres, 40 percent contained

* Sutton County McPherson Fire near Sonora  - 1,500 acres 15 percent contained

* Terrell County Fire east of Sanderson – Status Unconfirmed

* Tom Green County, Encino Fire near Carlsbad – 12,659 acres, 90 percent contained

(Fire crews are working to construct and hold lines; aerial resources are monitoring and performing water and retardant drops. Fires are expected to shift direction today with winds predicted to be from the south, with gusts of 25-30 mph. Temperatures will be high and relative humidity will be in the single digits leaving the potential for existing fires to spread and new fires to start.)

* Coke County, Wildcat Fire near Grape Creek – 41, 958 acres 10 percent contained. Yesterday as the fire moved south people were evacuated to the San Angelo Coliseum.  The communities of Grape Creek and Quail Valley were protected with no occupied structures lost.  Today, firefighters are concerned about south winds moving the fire north toward Robert Lee, TX.  Aerial resources will be used to protect communities.

* Andrews County, Frying Pan Ranch Fire near Andrews – 80,907 acres 40 percent contained. Today south winds are predicted to push the Frying Pan Ranch fire back onto itself and into the black.  Most areas of the fire are “in pretty good shape” according to fire personnel.

NEW FIRES

Eastland County, County Rd. 104 Fire – 1,400 acres. This fire could possibly threaten the town of Cisco. Church camp with cabins and school threatened and saved.  Some other structure damage reported.  TFS resources responding today include a Task Force of dozers and engines.

Young County, Smith Fire – 2,000 acres, 85 percent contained.

Jack County, Bryson Fire Complex, two fires – 7,500 acres. 50 homes threatened and 30 homes evacuated.  TFS resource responding today include an Air Attack, a Heavy Helicopter, and a Task Force of dozers and engines.

Motley County, Middle Pease Fire – 400 acres.  No other information.

Gregg County, No. 120 Fire – 5 acres.  Located at oilfield in rough terrain. 75 percent contained.

Nacogdoches County, No. 121 – 20 acres, controlled on a 20-year old plantation. Cause is under investigation.

Liberty County, No. 266 – 30 acres, no other information at this time.

Tyler and Hardin Counties, No. 260 – 600 acres. This fire is reported to be jumping roads, burning hot and spotting 75 yards ahead.  It has jumped from Hardin to Tyler County.  Thirty-forty homes are threatened and evacuated and oil tanks are threatened. TFS resources responding include a TXARNG Blackhawk helicopter and 2 dozers.

Hardin County, No. 259 – 10 acres. Unknown threats.

Harding County, No. 257 – 10 acres. Two homes threatened.

Hardin County, No. 256 off Hwy 787 west of Votaw – 7 acres,

Tyler County, No. 258 – 5 acres, one home saved, contained and controlled.

Shelby County, No. 122 – 12 acres

Cherokee County, No. 123 – 4 acres

Gregg County, No. 124 – 10 acres

Montgomery County, No. 265 – 3 acres

Stephens County, New Fire yet to be named – No other information at this time.

CARRYOVER FIRES

Wichita County, Wichita County Complex – 7,500 acres in 3 separate fires.

Iowa Park West Fire, 3,000 acres, 80 percent contained. There were 7 homes and 6 out buildings lost with 27 direct saves. The remaining 4,500 acres is shared between the Missile and Holiday fires.  TFS resources responding today include Air Attack and a Task Force of Engines and dozers.

Stonewall, Knox and King Counties, Swenson Fire – 104,350 acres, 90 percent contained. 3 ranch complexes threatened.  TFS resources responding include Air Attack, a heavy helicopter, a Task Force of dozers and engines, and a TIFMAS Strike Team of engines.

Kent, Stonewall, Fisher and Scurry Counties – Cooper Mtn Ranch Fire. – 152,000 acres.  There were 4 homes lost. 50 percent containment.  TFS resources responding today include 4 SEATs, a heavy helicopter, 4 task forces of dozers and engines, 20-person hand crew and four strike teams of TIFMAS engines.

Stephens County, PK West Fire and Palo Pinto County, Hohertz Fire – These two fires burned together last night and, combined, total 45,500 acres.  31 homes and one church destroyed were destroyed Friday. These two fires have now merged into one long, large fire.  An Incident Command Post has been established near Strawn. The State Opercations Center is reporting there are 300+ homes being evacuated on FM 2353 between Park Road 36 and State Highway (SH) 16 and there were a reported 300+ homes being threatened.  10 percent containment.  TFS resources committed to these two fires today include 2 Air Attacks, two heavy Helitankers, 2 TXARNG Blackhawk Helicopters, three 20-person hand crews, 3 Task Forces of dozers and engines, 4 TIFMAS Stike Teams of engines, and a TIFMAS Task Force of engines and water tenders .

Hardin County, No.245 Post Oak Fire – 76 acres  Extreme fire behavior noted on this fire on Friday.

Eastland County, East Sidywnicks – 3,000 acres. 95 percent contained.  TFS resources were released from this fire this afternoon.

Houston County, No. 251 Fire – 70 acres.  Three homes threatened and saved. Fire is contained.  Debris burning was the fire cause.

Trinity County, No. 254 – 1,100 acres. This fire has doubled in size from Friday.  Extreme fire behavior noted on this fire with crowning and spotting.  TFS resources responding include a helicopter, a dozer and two US Forest Service dozers.

Currently there are approximately 1,250 firefighting personnel being managed by the Texas Forest Service from 34 states assigned to Texas fires.  This figure does not include Volunteer Fire Department responders.