Firefighters from four Walker County fire departments spent several hours in Riverside on Monday extinguishing a 25-acre fire which damaged a pasture, two structures and four vehicles.
With the assistance of the Texas Forest Service, the group managed to stop the fire — which grew due to high winds and dry conditions — from damaging two nearby homes.
“It was a long, hard day,” said Huntsville firefighter Jeremy O’Neill. “The fire, which was in a pasture at the dead end of Jim White Road off (state) Highway 19, got up to about 25 acres, and we spent close to four hours on scene.
“We initially thought there was a person in one of the homes that was being threatened by the fire, but it turned out that the structure was empty and no injuries resulted from the fire.”
O’Neill said three trucks from the Huntsville Fire Department, four trucks from the Riverside Fire Department, one truck from the Dodge Fire Department and one truck from the Trinity Fire Department responded to the fire.
Altogether, approximately 20 to 25 firefighters were involved in controlling the flames.
“One of the residents near the pasture walked outside, saw the whole pasture on fire and reported it to us,” O’Neill said. “By the time we got there, there was a storage barn, a storage shed and four vehicles on fire in addition to the pasture itself.
“The Texas Forest Service completed a plow line all the way around the fire to cut it off.
“After the fire was out, the barn had been completely burned down and the shed was burned on one side, but we were able to stop the flames before they got to two nearby houses.”
O’Neill said an investigation into what caused the fire will most likely be conducted in the near future.
“We’re not sure how the fire was started — it’s undetermined at this point because, when we got there, there was too much fire to be able to tell what had happened,” he said.
In addition to the nine fire trucks and the Texas Forest Service unit that responded to the fire, a Huntsville-Walker County EMS unit also responded to the scene.
Local News
Four departments battle 25-acre fire
- Local News
-
-
Trees dying over nearly 6,000 acres in Sam Houston National Forest
Nearly 6,000 of the more than 160,000 acres in the Sam Houston National Forest have trees that are dead or dying because of ongoing drought conditions.
-
Providing help for victims
Anderson brings new dimension to HPD -
Students get FAFSA help
Financial aid workshop set for Sunday
-
Murder case still awaiting indictment
A Huntsville man who has been charged with murder and aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury is still awaiting grand jury action.
-
Who better than the Tooth Fairy?
-
Love in bloom
A simple Valentine's present led one Huntsville couple down the road to addiction – flower addiction.
-
Charges not expected in officer-involved shooting
Walker County District Attorney David Weeks said he does not anticipate any charges to be brought against a deputy who fatally shot an intoxicated suspect while attempting to stop him for a traffic violation last month.
-
City weighs development corporation
Work to set up a $800,000 a year nonprofit economic development corporation tasked with bringing new business to Huntsville will be “a test case” for the community’s trust in the newly elected Huntsville City Council, one of its members warned Tuesday.
-
Colorful celebration back for 2nd Latin Arts Festival
All things Latin will be discussed, learned and experienced and during the second annual Huntsville Latin American Arts Festival.
-
City hosts class on oil and gas laws
Oil and gas drilling provides a needed service, but the waste is cause for concern in cities across America. Even in those cities where drilling isn't taking place, there are still spills and leaks from cleanup trucks that can cause hazards to the environment, as well as other motorists.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
