CORYELL COUNTY (WBAP/KLIF News ) – Firefighters are battling a massive blaze in and around Fort Hood that has already scorched 19,000 acres and is about 5% contained, according to officials.
The fire prompted the evacuation of the town of Flat Sunday but officials told residents they could return around 9 pm.
The Texas A&M Forest Service said the fire jumped East Range Road earlier in the day. However, crews managed to contain the fire from spreading into Flat but the blaze is still going strong.
“When we got to this fire it was actually three separate fires that were burning on Fort Hood and outside of Fort Hood. Now, those fires have converged into one large fire and it’s called the Crittenburg Complex,” said a Forest Service spokesman.
In addition to firefighters battling the blaze on the ground, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service performed water airdrops to suppress and contain the fires.
Officials said the cause of the blaze is unknown and is under investigation.
“Right now, fire is very unpredictable. It’s very dry. It’s very windy and you really don’t know what its going to do,” said the spokesman.
East and West Range Roads are currently closed, allowing for only military and emergency service vehicles allowed access.
A wildfire in South Texas also prompted evacuation orders over the weekend. Local officials said the fire in Medina County burned more than 1,000 acres, destroyed three homes and knocked out power to more than 100 people.
The fire started late Friday but got worse on Sunday. Governor Greg Abbott declared a disaster in Medina County. Officials said the blaze is about 10% contained.
Fortunately, no one was injured in either the Medina County of Fort Hood fires.
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