PARKER COUNTY (WBAP/KLIF News) – Firefighters have contained a series of massive grass fires in Parker and Grayson Counties Monday.
The Texas Forest service said gusty winds of up to 30 mph help spread the blaze across 1,000 acres.
Parker County Judge Mark Riley gave an update shortly after 5 p.m.
He said he declared a state of emergency to allow the use of equipment needed to put the fire out.
“A tremendous amount of progress has been made in the last hour or so. It’s well on its way to being contained totally. The interstate is open both directions east and westbound,” said Riley.
The fire prompted several evacuations early on.
“12 homes have been evacuated and command has also requested Aledo ISD to evacuate Walsh Elementary in the Walsh development as a safeguard,” said Riley.
Riley said there are about a dozen crews that have responded to the fire including from departments in Parker, Tarrant, Denton and Wise counties.
McCall Elementary School had also been evacuated.
The fire started in the Willow Park Community and is spreading to the Southeast.
**GRASS FIRE UPDATE**
One lane of FM 1171 has reopened!
Here’s your evening commute info as of 4:06pm:
-1 lane of westbound 1171 OPEN
-All lanes of eastbound 1171 OPEN
-All lanes of 377 CLOSED between 1171 and Canyon Falls Dr. #dfwtraffic pic.twitter.com/fDIt8JmwtK— FlowerMoundFD (@FlowerMoundFD) January 22, 2018
Meanwhile, the National Weather Service issued a rare fire warning for the county.
“These are fairly rare products they’re only issued at the request of emergency management of large-scale evacuations that are underway due wildfires or grass fires in this case,” said Weather Service Meteorologist Lee Carlaw.
He said its the first fire warning issued since 2011.
People were being asked to avoid the area. Riley said that fortunately, no structures were burned and no one was injured.
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