By Kevin Jefferies
Hunt County – Continuing drought conditions helped fuel fire that consumed hundreds of acres across Hunt County yesterday. The Greenville Herald Banner reports that firefighters fought off large fires in Greenville and Lone Oak, and a smaller fire near Wolfe City.
Shortly after 10am yesterday, a fire broke out in Greenville south of the intersection of Lee and Sixth Streets. The fire broke out in a heavily wooded area and almost every fire department in the county came to help. Campbell, Cash, Celeste, Commerce, Lone Oak, Quinlan, and Wolfe City fire departments all helped battle the blaze. Firefighters from Able Springs in Kaufman County also happened to be in town and responded to the call for help. The fire took about two hours to control and an estimated 100 acres was burned.
Another fire that started within minutes of controlling Greenville blaze broke out in Lone Oak and also consumed around 100 acres, and a smaller fire was fought near Wolfe City.
Hunt County has only received about a third of the normal yearly rainfall this year and high winds and cold, dry conditions increase the grass fire danger all across North Texas. Burn bans are still in effect for almost all of North Texas.