Chalk Mountain Fire, a wildfire that has been burning through Texas’ Somervell County since July 18, had destroyed 16 residential structures and damaged five others, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service. Combined with the five homes that had recently burned down in the 1148 Fire, the total number of homes destroyed by wildfires in North Texas this week has risen to 21.
More than 6,700 acres of land have been burned by the Chalk Mountain Fire, and on Thursday, the blaze was only 10% contained. The fire is currently burning in the area between Dinosaur Valley State Park and Chalk Mountain, located about 45 miles south of Fort Worth and just under 5 miles southwest of the town of Glen Rose.
The Texas A&M Forest Service further states that most of the active fire is concentrated in the northeastern portion of the area. Firefighters are utilizing dozers and water-spraying aircraft to contain the blaze.
A Red Flag Fire Warning is in effect, for the drought has made North Texas particularly vulnerable to fires.
In response to the danger, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a fire disaster designation on Tuesday, July 19. This cleared the way for fighters from other states to come into Texas and assist with containment operations.
Meanwhile, nearby counties, such as Colorado County and Erath County, have assisted Somervell officials. On Wednesday, aircraft tankers from Austin came carrying 60,000 gallons of flame retardant.
On the morning of July 19, residents of the area north of US Highway 67 and west of Highway 52 were asked to evacuate. Somervell County officials set up a reception center at the Somervell County Expo Center to help all evacuees.
Cody Bowling and his wife Melissa Slayton evacuated their ranch, leaving early due to the smoke affecting their horses. The Texas A&M Forest Service released a video of the smoke that day as the fire activity began to increase.
As of July 22, no injuries from the fire had been reported. Some firefighters were treated for heat-related conditions, however. Officials have been investigating the cause of the fire, but thus far, no one believed it to have been set intentionally.
