A brush fire that took nine firefighting agencies seven hours to fully extinguish burned 91 acres close to Zengerle Road near Thomaston, Friday, Feb. 6, according to the DeWitt County Office of Emergency Management.
“Due to the rapid and coordinated response of local, county, state, community support, and volunteer partners, the incident was successfully contained,” Emergency Management Coordinator Billy Jordan Jr. said.
The DeWitt County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center received the emergency call about 2 p.m., and the firefighting scene was declared all clear at about 9 p.m., according to a Cuero Fire Department report. The fire was large and fast moving across thick brush that limited access, the report said.
The fire threatened four homes and other structures as well as livestock in the vicinity, but the firefighting crews’ work prevented any losses. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
DeWitt County Judge Daryl Fowler said the teamwork that prevented greater damage was a classic example of “neighbors helping neighbors.” It is also a reminder to be overly cautious during the current drought, he said.
“This is not the time to burn anything outdoors,” Fowler said in a statement published on the Office of Emergency Management’s Facebook page. “Even the ages-old practice of burning household garbage or feed sacks can rapidly turn into disaster.”
Agencies and community members working at the scene included: Thomaston Volunteer Fire Department, Cuero Fire Department, Cuero Volunteer Fire Department, Yorktown Volunteer Fire Department, Nursery Volunteer Fire Department, Yoakum Volunteer Fire Department, Westhoff Volunteer Fire Department, Victoria Fire Department, Fordtran Volunteer Fire Department, Cuero Regional Hospital EMS, De Witt County Sheriff’s Office (dispatch and on-scene support), Precinct Commissioners 1, 2, and 3 with water truck resources, McMahan Services, Enbridge Inc., a ocal landowner providing heavy equipment (dozer support), Cuero Auxiliary of Volunteer Fire Department providing food and water, Community members assisting with water for responders, Texas A&M Forest Service and Texas Division of Emergency Management.
