PALO PINTO - Despite triple-digit temperatures and occasional gusts, firefighters gained ground Sunday on two wildfires in Palo Pinto County that have burned at least 3,600 acres since they started last week, a Texas Forest Service official and local authorities said.
For the most part, the storms that battered North Texas on Sunday evening missed the fire area.Two helicopters arrived Sunday morning to aid firefighters from about 14 departments who are battling the blazes. The helicopters dropped gallons of water at both sites, authorities said.No injuries have been reported, and the fires have not destroyed any structures, but they have threatened more than 40 homes. No evacuations have been ordered."We had about 60 acres burning in the Hog Bend area just on Possum Kingdom Lake today, and those helicopters jumped right on it," said Palo Pinto County Fire Marshal Keiffer "Buddy" Harwell. "They probably saved about 25 homes."Harwell said officials will investigate how the wildfire started in the Hog Bend area.The Rhodes Ranch fire started Wednesday near U.S. 180, just east of the town of Palo Pinto. By Sunday afternoon, firefighters had contained at least 50 percent of the blaze.The temperature hit 105 degrees at Mineral Wells at 3 p.m., and gusts to 18 mph were reported.On Thursday, the Dark Valley fire started near Texas 16 and Texas 254 near Possum Kingdom Lake, where wildfires last year charred 126,734 acres and destroyed 168 homes, two churches and 128 outbuildings. Firefighters had 50 percent of those fires contained.Texas Forest Service spokesman Patrick Allen said Sunday that the Rhodes Ranch fire had burned 1,700 acres and the Dark Valley fire had burned 1,900."The weather held and, luckily, as the day progressed, we were able to get other resources from the state and local level," Allen said.Allen said fire departments from neighboring communities are helping the Texas Forest Service.Domingo Ramirez Jr., 817-390-7763Twitter: @mingoramirezjrHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
