Over the last seven days, 178 wildfires in Texas have burned more than 108,000 acres and come uncomfortably close to a handful of former Odessans now living in Central Texas.
Kelly Blau, former owner of University Bridals and Formals, lives on a ranch five miles south of Gorman. The first fire near her ignited Wednesday night and since then a handful of other fires have also come to life to form what’s being called the Eastland Complex fires.
As of Monday morning, the Eastland Complex fires have charred more than 54,000 acres and was only 30% contained, said Anna Erin, a spokeswoman for the Texas A&M Forest Service. The cause of the fires remains under investigation.
Once one of the fires got up to the edge of Gorman, Blau said she and her husband Brandon, who have owned their ranch about six years, opened up all of their gates so their cattle could get to the greenest parts.
“We filled up our trucks with keepsakes and got ready to move out,” Blau said. “We sat up all night Thursday night just watching.”
Her stepmother and her stepmother’s parents, who lived next door, did evacuate Thursday night, but have since returned home, Blau said.
The winds died down some on Saturday, but by Sunday they had picked up again, Blau said.
“I think the winds were 20-30 miles an hour, but they seemed like 1,000 miles an hour,” Blau said.
Thankfully, it began to drizzle Monday morning.
“We’re safe now, but it’s just been a long weekend waiting and watching,” Blau said. “I know a lot of people were closer, but it was close enough for me.”
Erin, the forest service spokeswoman, said three new fires popped up Sunday, slowing the firefighters’ progress.
“The precipitation and rainfall over the area is certainly going to be beneficial to making good progress in containing the fires,” Erin said. “The firefighters are looking forward to making some progress today.”
As of Monday morning, just over 400 firefighters from all over Texas and 14 other states were battling the blazes, Erin said.
A news release detailed that firefighters from the Midland Fire Department joined other agencies across Texas as part of the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System to assist with the fires in and around the Eastland Complex fires.
Assistant Odessa Fire Rescue Chief Rodd Huber said his department sent a training captain and an engineer to the Eastland Complex fires, too. Both are paramedics and took an ambulance with them.
They’ve been helping out with logistics since last Wednesday and are expected to return back sometime this week. It’s unknown at this point if they’ll need to be replaced, Huber said.
Blau said she’s been amazed at the response of all of the local volunteer firefighters and the community. The departments have received so many donations for water and food they’re at near capacity, she said. Tons of cattle feed has also been donated.
What they really need now is help with the high cost of fuel, whether it’s through cash donations or gift cards, Blau said. People willing to help can visit Central Texas Fire Relief – Farm and Ranch on Facebook for information on how they can help, she said.
Odessan Ronnie Lewis spent Sunday night keeping a close eye on ranches owned by his sister, Lori Dawson, and his mother, Alma Bird, 15 miles outside of Brownwood near Blanket. The Blanket Fire was threatening both of their homes, which are located along Highway 1467, also known as the Blanket Highway.
The Blanket Fire had burned 1,500 acres as of Monday morning and was 5% contained, Erin said. Roughly 40 firefighters were battling it.
According to the Blanket Volunteer Fire Department, it was started by arcing powerlines.
“We were sitting in the house watching TV and visiting with my mom when we got a phone call,” suggesting they evacuate, Lewis said.
When they looked outside, they could see the smoke, but realized the fire was heading away from their ranches, so they decided to stay, Lewis said.
“We were ready to skedaddle, though. We left the garage door open and we packed up all of my mom’s medications,” he said. “There were people packing up all around us.”
From 5 p.m. until dark, Lewis said he accompanied his brother-in-law, Pat, as Pat joined all of the other nearby ranchers in moving cattle from endangered pastures to safer locations. At one point, a whole group of cattle was herded down the highway.
Many of the ranchers didn’t know each other well, but everyone was pitching in, he said.
“It gave us goosebumps watching everyone pitching in,” Lewis said.
As darkness fell, people warily watched the fire’s progression from nearby hills, he said.
On Monday morning, Lewis said he couldn’t tell if the air was still filled with smoke or if it was fog as a storm front came through. Later in the day, he said a “nice rain” was coming down.
Lewis, too, mentioned the tireless work of the nearby volunteer firefighters.
“They’ve been working around the clock for days,” Lewis said.
Want to help?
The May and Blanket volunteer fire departments are accepting donations.
May Volunteer Fire Department
PO Box 15
May, Texas, 76857
Blanket Volunteer Fire Department
PO Box 72
Blanket, Texas, 76432
