By Kevin Jefferies
Fannin County – Quick response and cooperation helped to quickly contain a grass fire in Fannin County yesterday. A cigarette butt is suspected to be the cause of a fire that started along FM 2815. Quick response by the Randolph and Bailey volunteer fire departments and emergency personnel from the U.S. Forest Service helped contain the blaze that scorched 5 acres, ignited hay bales, and threatened two homes.
U.S. Forest Service personnel stationed in Greenville brought in a helicopter rigged to drop water on the blaze and used a nearby stock pond to reload and douse the fire.
A cigarette butt is also suspected to be the cause of a huge grass fire in Hunt County last week that consumed about 300 acres near Floyd. Forestry officials say the biggest fires yesterday included one that scorched about 150 acres in Cherokee County and another fire in Wood County burned 70 acres and forced the evacuation of 120 people.
Extremely dry conditions, high winds, and low humidity have turned Texas into a tinderbox with only the slightest spark needed to start a blaze. Everyone is being urged to be extremely cautious.