Grass fire season descends on Hopkins
With dry air blowing in from cold fronts but no rain in sight, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service, Northeast Texas is at an elevated danger for grass fires. Hopkins County volunteer fire departments have been reporting an uptick in grass fires in the past weeks.
- Sept. 2 at 4:35 p.m., Pickton-Pine Forest extinguished a grass fire
- Sept. 6 at 3:15 p.m., Hopkins County extinguished a grass fire
- Sept. 10 at 12:45 p.m. several county units extinguished a grass fire on I-30 East
- Sept. 18 at 12:30 p.m., 2:49 p.m. and 2:56 p.m. several county units extinguished a grass fire on both sides of I-30, which caused a traffic hazard
- Sept. 21 at 1:59 p.m. several county units extinguished a grass fire at the 6000 block of CR 3219
- Sept. 23 at 3 p.m. several county units extinguished a grass fire at FM 2297
- Sept. 23 at 4:35 p.m. several county units extinguished a grass fire at the 3000 block of FM 275 South
- Sept. 25 at 2:21 p.m. several county units responded to a grass fire on FM 71 West
The southern part of the county was particularly susceptible to grass fire danger, according to fire department reports, as six of the ten calls came from south of the Interstate.
“Grassfire season is in full swing,” Arbala VFD noted. The station has recently erected a fire danger sign for residents of the community.
Texas A&M Forest Service urges citizens to please use extreme caution with outdoor activities where there is potential for fire. That means no outdoor burning or welding, do not toss lit cigarette butts outside, no fireworks and do not tow with hanging chains.
By Taylor Nye. Fire reports are sourced from 911 call logs and fire department reports.
