By Scott Harvey
Palo Pinto County – A Strike Team consisting of personnel from Commerce and Royse City Fire Departments, among others, is now assisting with the Possum Kingdom Lake fire that has already burned 150,000 acres.
The complex of fires, about 50 miles west of Fort Worth, has also destroyed about 150 homes in the past week.
In addition to crews from fire departments throughout the state and volunteer firefighters, teams from both federal and state agencies have been called in to tame the situation.
The National Weather Service says conditions are more favorable after a front brought higher humidity, cooler temperatures and calmer winds.
Strike Team 6 is also comprised of crews and equipment from Frisco and Prosper. Additionally, area crews from Hopkins County, Bogota, Cookville and Mt. Pleasant have also been deployed to areas of West Texas.
According to Commerce Fire Chief Brian McNevin, firefighters Josh Cato and Joe Martello are scheduled to relieve Jeremy Littlefield and Bruce Millard Thursday morning in Fort Davis, Texas.
Meanwhile, the Commerce Police Department is accepting donations for all firefighters out west. Items of most need include non-flavored chap stick, eye drops, sunscreen with SPF 30 or more, baby wipes, cotton while t-shirts and tube socks and drinks with electrolytes like Gatorade and Powerade.