KILLEEN, Texas — The City of Killeen’s Fire Department and Office of Homeland Security with Emergency Management tackled six wildfires on Thursday, July 14, with the help of ten neighboring agencies.
The two, largest fires, the Riley Fire and TAMUCTX, were under control within two hours of receiving the calls, with crews monitoring the sites overnight into today, as stated by authorities.
Thursday’s wildfires also include:
- Bowie Drive: 1:52p.m. (Burned less than 1 acre and cause was arcing electrical from high winds)
- Zephyr Road and MLK Jr. Boulevard: 1:54 p.m. (Burned less than 1 acre and cause was arcing electrical from high winds)
- Lawndale Street: 1:54p.m. (Burned less than 1 acre and cause was arcing electrical from high winds)
- Riley Drive and WS Young Drive: 1:59 p.m. (Burned approximately 30 acres and cause was arcing transformer)
- Spring Valley Drive: 2:29 p.m. (Burned a very small area with low grass near a mobile home and cause is unknown)
- Texas A&M University-Central Texas at Leadership Drive: 3:36 p.m. (Burned approximately 30 acres and this sparked when tree mulch was blown into the heavy brush from storm winds)
Due to grass fires, WS Young Drive from Stagecoach Road to Love Drive was closed while crews battled the flames, but the road reopened by 6 p.m. yesterday, as reported here.
Authorities confirmed yesterday with 6 News, that there were no mandatory evacuations at either fire, although residents at two homes voluntarily left their home as a precaution.
Fire departments from Fort Hood, Harker Heights, Copperas Cove, Salado, SW Bell County Volunteers, Sparta Valley Volunteers, Bell County Office of Emergency Management, Texas A&M University-Central Texas police department and Risk Management and the Texas A&M Forest Service all assisted with the fires, as stated by authorities.
How to Prevent Wildfires:
KFD and the Killeen OHSEM want residents to remember these tips to prevent wildfires:
• Keeping lawns mowed, and removing dead brush
• Vehicle exhaust systems spark hundreds of wildfires each year when they contact dry vegetation. If possible, avoid driving on dry grass when fire danger is high and never park a vehicle on dry grass.
• If you are towing a trailer, make sure it is roadworthy with good tires, greased bearings, and no chains dragging
• If you smoke, put it out. All the way. Every time.
• Make sure cigarettes and ashes are out before throwing them in the trash can. Soak cigarette butts and ashes in water before throwing them away. Never toss hot cigarette butts or ashes in the trash.
• Keep your butts in the car - cigarettes can cause brush fires as well as indoor fires – smoking-related fires contribute to 800 deaths per year in the U.S.
• Try to avoid using outdoor cooking appliances until conditions improve.
• Ensure that trailers with chains do not drag on the road which can cause sparks that set brush on fire.
More on KCENtv.com: