The Huntsville Item, Huntsville, TX

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June 7, 2011

Firefighters from eight departments battle blaze

By Brandon Scott Staff Reporter

HUNTSVILLE — A grass fire burned about 100 acres of pastureland10 miles north of Huntsville near FM 230 and Koonce Road on Monday, Huntsville firefighters said.

The cause of the fire is unknown.

Seven other departments assisted at the scene, including Riverside, Pine Prairie, Dodge, Thomas Lake Road, Trinity, 356 Voluntary and Texas Forest Service.

Riverside fireman Lee Ashby responded initially around 1 p.m. after receiving a call from the Ellis Unit on FM 980 reporting heavy smoke nearby.

Firefighters located the fire burning near the Estelle Unit on FM 3478 and threatening more than 15 structures on River Road. However, authorities did not order evacuations.

Instead, the Texas Forest Service brought bulldozers to establish fire lines in the area. Huntsville Fire Department supplied water to hose lines from other departments to keep homes from being involved in the fire.

There was no damage to structures, according to firefighters on the scene.

Karen Crampton, who lives in a mobile home close to the site of the fire, said most homes in the area are occupied on the weekends. Crampton was babysitting her grandchildren, letting them swim in a small wading pool, when she noticed a large cloud of smoke rising behind her residence.

“We could see the smoke through the trees,” Crampton said. “We just bought new televisions, new games. I want to retire and get another trailer anyway but not like this. I wasn’t going anywhere until I knew my house was safe.”

Crampton and her daughter Rachel Hartt blamed the threat of fire on the drought and the accumulation of brush that can’t be incinerated while the county is under a burn ban. Hartt moved into a rent house in Riverside just a few months ago.

“We’ve got limbs, trash but we can’t burn anything,” Hartt said. “I’ve got old bamboo that I’m trying to get rid of.”

This was the third area fire in just over one month. A downed Mid-South Synergy power line caused a 200-acre wildfire on Bishop Road and FM 1696 on April 29. Then a 491-acre wildfire spread down Scales Ranch Road on May 27.

“Just a little bit of smoke can get a lot going,” Crampton added. “That’s all it takes.”

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