Rain finally in forecast for Texas areas scorched by fires

March 21, 2022 Updated Mon., March 21, 2022 at 7:50 p.m.

Members of the Carbon Volunteer Fire Department pass through a rural Eastland County, Texas, intersection Saturday while fighting the Kidd Fire. (Ronald W. Erdrich)

Associated Press

EASTLAND, Texas – Wildfires continued to scorch parts of Texas on Monday, and a storm system moving through could bring much-needed rain but also strong winds, forecasters said.

The fires were already blamed for the deaths of two firefighters – one in Texas and one in Oklahoma. The largest of the fires, known as the Eastland Complex, had burned nearly 85 square miles in an area around 120 miles west of Dallas and was 30% contained as of Sunday.

National Weather Service meteorologist Monique Sellers told the Dallas Morning News that about an inch of rain was predicted Monday in Eastland County.

“The rain will relieve how dry it is in those grassy areas prone to fires,” she said. “Unfortunately, Monday is the only day we’re seeing any rain for the foreseeable future, and the windy days will continue.”

Another fire prompted evacuations of several small towns in Hood County, about 75 miles southwest of Dallas. That blaze, known as the Big L fire, had burned about 9 square miles and was 5% contained.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Friday that 50 homes had been destroyed.

In southwest Oklahoma on Sunday, a 55-year-old firefighter died after becoming separated from her vehicle while fighting a wildfire, officials said. The cause of death for April Partridge, who was with the community of Edgewater Park’s volunteer fire department, will be determined by the state medical examiner’s office, officials said.

And in Texas, Deputy Sgt. Barbara Fenley died last week while going door-to-door telling residents to evacuate, authorities said.

Fire crews continued to try and contain separate wildfires spanning several Texas counties on Monday.

Fires covering about 10,000 acres across Erath and Hood counties were about 50% contained but under control on Monday afternoon, the Texas A&M Forest Service posted on Twitter. A mandatory evacuation order issued on Sunday for Lipan in Hood County was lifted as of Monday morning, according to a tweet from the county.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.