NEWS
Fruitland fire burns 230 acres; no inhabited homes destroyed, 10 structures burned
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
It was a brutal afternoon of firefighting last Friday as a fire that began near State Highway 101 and Fruitland Road swept across 230 acres threatening homes and burning many other structures.
Bowie and Sunset firefighters were called out to a fire reported in the 2500 block of Fruitland Road near the intersection of Fruitland and Hwy. 101 shortly before 2:30 p.m. Sheriff Marshall Thomas said it was his understanding the fire may have started where a welder was working on a front entry of a property in this area.
The sheriff and Chief Deputy Jack Lawson responded to the call for assistance and asked for other law enforcement to send officers if they were available. The sheriff’s deputies were attending a training on this afternoon and were out of pocket.
Thomas said Bowie Police and Department of Public Safety provided officers, the constables and game warden also helped.
Shortly before 3 p.m. officers began contacting area residents and encouraging them to evacuate. The specific directive came for all residents on Fruitland between Smyrna and Farm-to-Market Road 3043 (Brushy).
As the fire moved toward Brushy winds from the west and southwest were blowing toward the northeast leading to an evacuation notice to those on Orchard and Cole, which was closed at one point.
Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
The 90-day ban on outdoor burning has expired in Montague County, but residents are urged to still exercise caution when burning. Those who plan large burns are asked to call the sheriff’s office at 8994-2871, ext. 1, to let the staff know in the event emergency fire calls come in.
Sunday, 7:00 a.m. Update – Lake Amon Carter is now at 922.80 feet, which is 2.80 feet above what is normally considered as “full”. Because of this flooding, Lake Amon Carter has been closed for boating. Selma Park has also been closed (due to electrical outages caused by the flooding). Both will reopen as soon as the water level is back below 922.00 feet.
Members of the Montague County Commissioner’s Court will meet at 9 a.m. on Nov. 12, instead of Nov. 11 due to the Veterans Day holiday.
The Tuesday agenda is filled with routine items. A pair of bills connected to the development of the sewer plant for the courthouse and jail complex will be considered.
One is for $620 to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for a permit fee for the septic system and the second is $6,400 for clearing brush and a fence row around the sewer plant property. Both bills will be paid for using American Rescue program grant funds.
The court will consider adjusting pay for two sheriff’s office positions utilizing the Senate Bill 22 grant. The sheriff’s office also has received unanticipated revenue of $1,768 from the Law Enforcement Partners to go into supplies and $250 from David and Marie Dooley to be put into training.
Precinct one will present an equipment lease agreement with First National Bank leasing of Wichita Falls for the purchase of a 2025 Mack P164T truck. Precinct two will seek to accept a $5,000 donation for paving Orchard Road.
Two replats for Silver Lakes Ranch will be offered and the court will consider approving North Starr Estates Subdivision in precinct three.
The Montague County ban on outdoor burning runs out on Nov. 12 and the court is expected to let the order run its 90 days.
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