Wildfire 7-9-2011

While in Johnson County (about 70 miles southwest of Dallas) this past Saturday afternoon, a wildfire erupted near the Brazos River and The Retreat Resort.  Whipped by 20 mile per hour winds, it quickly became out-of-control before rural (mostly volunteer) fire departments could respond.  One aerial water tanker was on the scene within a few minutes, but the flames were well beyond its capability to control, and a second aerial tanker joined the fight.  Initially, they were dowsing homes in the path of the flames, and then trying to control the flames as they spread across the countryside.

As it turns out, I had the ideal front row seat for this event – perched high atop a hill to view the wildfire, and only yards away from where the aerial tankers were drawing their water from the ponds around the golf course at The Retreat Resort.  Sirens screamed from many small firetrucks making their way to the front lines and to prevent loss to property in its path.

It took about an hour to get this wildfire under control, when another erupted about 10 miles away.  And while the aerial tankers immediately went to work on it, the original wildfire re-erupted and needed more attention.  Now the two aerial tankers were fighting both fires.

These fires were truly “wild” on this very hot, dry and windy Saturday afternoon in north-central Texas.   But thanks to the aerial tankers and probably scores of rural firemen and equipment, these we brought under control relatively quickly.