JEFF DAVIS COUNTY, TX (KWES) - Photos from Luke Hendryx and the Texas A&M Forest Service
UPDATE: 5/15 7:44
The fire is now 100% contained
-------------
UPDATE: 5/12 2:49
The fire is approximately 90% contained at 19,043 acres.
The threat to the Davis Mountain Resort that this fire was posing is now much reduced.
The County Judge and County Fire Marshall are lifting the voluntary evacuation order for David Mountain Resort residents as of 10 a.m. May 12.
-------------
UPDATE: 5/10 11:39
The fire is now 83% contained but still at 19,043 acres.
---------------
UPDATE: 5/9 11:03
The fire is now 68% contained at 19,043 acres.
---------------
UPDATE: 5/7 10:23 a.m.
The fire is 59 percent contained at 18,970 acres.
----------------
UPDATE: 5/6 9:12
The fire is now 39% contained, but it has grown to 18,966 acres.
There are 359 total personnel responding to this fire.
----------------
UPDATE: 5/5 9:27
The fire is now 33% contained and is still at 18,892 acres.
----------------
UPDATE: 5/4 9:50
The fire is now 23% contained and down to 18,892 acres.
There are 385 people currently working to contain the fire.
-----------------
UPDATE: 5/3 4:28 p.m.
The fire has now claimed several barns and a shed.
FEMA has approved a grant to help pay for resources going to the McDannald Fire.
------------------
UPDATE: 5/3 12:28 p.m.
Due to worsening weather conditions and an expected increase in fire activity, the Jeff Davis County Judge and the Fire Marshal have ordered a second voluntary evacuation for the Davis Mountains Resort.
They suggest everyone avoid the area.
------------------
UPDATE: 5/3 10:23 a.m.
One cabin and one shed burned down overnight.
Officials say the fire got dangerously close to some homes, but none have burned.
------------------
UPDATE: 5/2 8:17 p.m.
22,053 acres are now burning, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service. Containment is still at 15 percent.
------------------
UPDATE: 5/2 7:35 p.m.
According to the Fort Davis Volunteer Fire Department, the head of the fire appears to be to the north of the resort.
Due to the better conditions, the voluntary evacuation order will be lifted at 8 p.m. Wednesday.
------------------
UPDATE: 5/2 5:11 p.m.
Fire Marshall Jim Fowler gives an update from Fort Davis.
------------------
UPDATE: 5/2 1:03 p.m.
According to the Texas A&M Forest Service, an estimated 400 homes in the area are threatened.
The fire continues to burn with high rates of spread.
------------------
UPDATE: 5/2 10:34 a.m.
The fire continues to burn on Paradise Ridge above the Davis Mountains Resort, according to the Fort Davis Volunteer Fire Department. It's also burning around the brown and white mountains near the Crows Nest and Apache Pines area.
Priorities continue to be structure protection in the endangered areas.
Resources will continue to arrive at the Davis Mountain Resort, according to the fire department.
At this time the Jeff Davis County Judge and County Fire Marshall are asking people in the DMR area to voluntarily evacuate.
Those who do not have the means or need to evacuate horses can call (432) 249-0748. A horse trailer will carry horses to the Marfa Arena.
The Hillary Nut Farm has offered to take dogs at the time, the fire department tells us.
------------------
UPDATE: 5/1 7:37 p.m.
The fire is now estimated at 12,000 acres with 15 percent containment.
------------------
UPDATE: 5/1 6:54 p.m.
A Type 1 incident management team is expected to arrive in Fort Davis on Wednesday.
The fire is currently 21 miles west of Fort Davis and continues to burn due to high winds and warm temperatures.
According to the forest service, lightning was determined to have started the fire on Monday.
------------------
UPDATE: 5/1 4:03 p.m.
The fire continues to burn at high rates of spread and active fire behavior, according to the Forest Service.
Crews are working on point protection of structures.
The western side of the fire has crossed the Livermore Ranch and Kelly Ranch Road.
According to the Fort Davis Volunteer Fire Department, Highway 166 has been closed from FM 505. You are advised to avoid the area.
A DPS helicopter is also mapping the fire, Jim Fowler with the volunteer fire department said.
------------------
UPDATE: 5/1 2:40 p.m.
The McDannald fire has grown to 10,000 acres and is still at 10 percent containment. Two large air tankers and three single-engine tankers and ground resources have been working the fire all day.
------------------
UPDATE: 4/30 9:30 p.m.
A wildfire in Jeff Davis County is still burning at 6,000 acres.
According to the Texas A&M Forest Service, the McDannel fire has grown in the rough terrain and its only 10 percent contained.
20 structures are being threatened, though none have been lost.
Two single-engine air tankers and local fire departments are working together to battle the blaze.
