Large wildfire burns 50 acres in Linden

On Friday, July 29 the State of Texas State Operations Center (SOC) received an initial report of the Cass 4439 Fire in Cass County in the Linden area. According to their preliminary report, the fire had burned 40 acres and at that point had not been contained. The fire was located west of County Road (CR) 1896 and north of Farm-to-Market Road (FM) 125 S (32° 58.0429’ N I 94° 16.4522’ W). Later the fire was contained, with a final report from the State of Texas State Operations Center. The fire threatened 20 homes and was just minutes away from completely jumping highway 125 and threatening L-K High School according to Cass County Emergency Services District #4 fireman Keith Duncan.

In the initial report, it notated a very high fire behavior is occurring with crowning in a young pine plantation. The fire had jumped FM 125. Two tractor plows were on the scene. One heavy dozer, a type 1 Helicopter, 1 large air tanker, and a bravo were en route to help contain the fire. Also, two additional large air tankers had been requested. In the initial report responding agencies included all Cass County Fire Departments and Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Texas Highway Patrol (THP).

Firefighters worked around the clock to battle the fire that burned nearly 50 acres. On July 30 the State of Texas State Operations Center issued an initial final report that the fire has burned 49 acres and was 100 percent contained. All crews and VFDs had been released for the night. TAMFS would return in the morning with a “Type 1 Helo” to check for hot spots. (DOC 5-Mt Pleasant).

On July 29 the Cass County Emergency Services District #4 commented and thanked publicly on social media, “Long night of babysitting fire for all of these guys and the forest service units. Huge thank you to all the neighboring departments who responded with haste when we screamed for help. Center Hill Volunteer Fire Department ESDs 1, 2, 3, and 4, Linden VFD, Texas Forest Service, DPS, CCSO, and anyone else that I am missing! We are so grateful for the mutual aid contracts that allow us to help each other out!!”

On July 30 at 12:01 p.m. District #4 gave an update saying that “the fire on 125 is still an active fire scene. With crews from Florida and Colorado here helping! Please be careful if you drive down here. Firefighters are still lining the road and the smoke is still heavy at times!”

At 4:51 the same day District #4 firefighter Johnny Duncan issued a statement saying, “I would like to personally thank all the fire and fighters and support people who helped on the fire on 125 yesterday and today. Special thanks to TFS, Fire District 1,2,3, and 4 firefighters Linden Fire Department, Curtis Whatley, and our County Judge Travis Ransom who came by this morning to check on us and see if we needed anything. Thanks to God and a great group of firefighters working together to put this fire out. Thank all of y’all.”

Cass County Judge Travis Ransom noted that the “flames were as high as 50 feet at times. The wildland firefighters did an amazing job of keeping it contained and away from houses in close proximity zones.”

District 4 firefighter Keith Duncan yesterday issued a wrap-up statement, “For the ones that are wondering if Cass County is still under a Burn Ban the answer is YES, we are. Until all of the county receives substantial rainfall, we will be. As of the other day, it was said that we would need approximately 10 inches of rain to break us out of drought conditions. The fire we had Friday night below LK High School was minutes away from jumping HWY 125. We were blessed by God and the local fire districts, VFDs, and TFS.

“We had 5 departments and I believe 7 dozers on this fire. This was a lightning strike fire and was found just right after it happened by a landowner that lives across the road from where it happened. If it had a 30 min or better head start before being found the outcome would have been much worse. Conditions are dry. Yes, the little showers we are getting are helping but it’s being soaked up as quick as it falls or is running off and not being soaked up. I’m not trying to get folks scared but conditions are getting there quickly with the high temps and all. Just be mindful that when a fire does start, please stay out of the way so resources can get to the calls.”

Drought.gov reports that Cass County is under D3 - Extreme Drought conditions, meaning that soil has large cracks; soil moisture is very low; dust and sandstorms occur. Also, row and forage crops fail to germinate; decreased yields for irrigated crops and very large yield reduction for dryland crops are reported. Lastly, a need for supplemental feed, nutrients, protein, and water for livestock increases; herds are sold.