EASTLAND COUNTY, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) – Multiple smaller fires across Eastland County turned into the Eastland Complex fire Thursday, March 16, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.
“Fires are burning actively in heavy brush,” the forest service said on Twitter.
As of 10:30 p.m., an estimated 38,000 acres were believed to have burned and none of it had been contained.
Low humidity and gusty winds played a huge role in the spreading of the fires.
Hundreds of people have been forced to evacuate.
The Texas A&M Forest Service said late Thursday night, “Crews are focusing on operations related to life safety and structure protection as well as the construction of fireline where possible.”
Update: the #EastlandComplex in Eastland County is an estimated 38,383 acres and 0% contained. Crews are focusing on operations related to life safety and structure protection as well as the construction of fireline where possible. #txfire pic.twitter.com/kpbBA7T3YM
— Incident Information – Texas A&M Forest Service (@AllHazardsTFS) March 18, 2022
Wildfires joined together in the small city of Ranger, burning multiple buildings including a church and an old police department building.
Eastland County fire (credit: Eastland County Today)
Ranger is about 85 miles southwest of Fort Worth.
Elsewhere in Coleman, about 140 miles southwest of Fort Worth, the fire department said “multiple homes have been lost” and the Red Cross has been contacted to set up shelters.
Several neighborhoods and subdivisions in the region were evacuated.
No injuries have been reported.
A spokesperson for the Eastland County Judge Rex Fields, told CBS 11 around 9:45 p.m., there were three fires burning: One near Nimrod, one north of Rising Star and one near Carbon.
There are two shelters for evacuees in Eastland: First Baptist Church and River of Life Church.
10:55PM – Here’s a look at the major road closures around the #EastlandComplex. The roads in blue have been closed due to active fires or low visibility. Check https://t.co/FKIgFnjqif for the latest road closure information. #abiwx #txwx https://t.co/9o3HbbHsuj pic.twitter.com/erTVK95ad4
— NWS Fort Worth (@NWSFortWorth) March 18, 2022
