A grass fire in Hemphill County on Tuesday, March 10 marked the third grass fire reported in the Texas Panhandle in the past three days, and a fourth, possibly larger one started in the region in the evening.
Another fire — which would mark the fourth fire on the TAFMS map listed in the region this week — was reported at 8:12 p.m. Tuesday along US. 385 in Oldham County near the Hartley County and Moore County lines. The Yellow Fire had no containment and was an unknown size, possibly several thousand acres.
State Highway 354 was closed at the U.S. Highway 385 intersection in Channing. The fire was near the site of the Maroon Fire in Oldham County, which spread to Hartley County, burned about 745 acres and shut down part of U.S. Highway 385 on Sunday.
At the same time, the Cabin Creek fire in Gray County was an estimated 7,000 acres Tuesday evening and was 80% contained as of 8:46 p.m.
Additionally, a grass fire near the Hutchinson and Moore County line, northwest of Stinnett, burned about 30 acres Tuesday.
The Texas A&M Forest Service said earlier the Little fire was estimated to be about 401 acres and 100% contained, as of 8:37 p.m. The fire was located south of Canadian, near the interchange of Highways 83 and 60, according to the TAMFS incident map. The Hemphill County Sheriff’s Office said in a 6:02 p.m. update the fire was under control and units at the scene were mopping up.
The Little fire was the third one that had sparked in the region since Sunday, March 8, when red flag warnings had been issued. Fire risk continues to impact the area with dry, windy conditions and tall grasses.
This is a developing story; more information will be added as it becomes available.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: New grass fires ignite in Texas Panhandle March 10
Reporting by Kristina Wood, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
