Texas Forest Service: Wildfires Continue to Threaten Lives & Property

AUSTIN – The Mesquite Heat wildfire south of Abilene continues to burn while crews fight to contain it Friday after almost 10,000 acres burned off U.S. 277 near the community of View.  Officials report some 27 homes have been destroyed by the wildfire.  

Here's the latest from the Texas A&M Forest Service on wildfires across the state: 

Texas A&M Forest Service fire resources responded to 10 new wildfires that burned 621.5 acres across the state yesterday. Crews continued suppression operations on several carryover wildfires, and are currently working on 9 wildfire across the state.

There is potential for large wildfires to occur in the Western/Eastern Hill Country and Rolling Plain through Friday for areas near Childress, Vernon, Abilene, Brownwood, Lampasas, San Angelo, Ozona and Fredericksburg.

Any new fires in grass and brush vegetation will likely be resistant to control, as underlying drought and critically to extremely dry vegetation combine with 100-degree temperatures and periods of elevated to critical fire weather.

Very hot temperatures and mostly dry conditions during the week will decrease the moisture in vegetation through Friday for much of the state. A general trend of increasing initial attack fire activity is likely for Central, East and South Texas.

By the weekend, a pattern change is expected when a forecast cold front moves through the state. As a result, a seasonable cool and moist environment will limit potential for wildfire activity on Saturday and Sunday.

There are currently 131 counties with burn bans. 

Active Wildfires:  

• Mesquite Heat Fire, Taylor County - 9,613 acres, 25% contained
• Coconut Fire, Wilbarger County - est. 26,000 acres, 45% contained
• Twin Starts Fire, Llano County - est. 420 acres, 75% contained
• Dry Branch Fire, Hamilton County - 1,407 acres, 85% contained
• Pope 2 Fire, Schleicher County - est. 2,530 acres, 75% contained
• Slab Road Fire, Llano County - 57 acres, 90% contained
• Sandstone Mountain Fire, Llano County - 351 acres, 95% contained
• Johnson Fork Fire, Kimble County - 55 acres, 80% contained
• Mayfield Fire, San Saba County - est. 1,250 acres, 40% contained