KAUFMAN COUNTY, Texas — Fire departments throughout the county have been taxed with several larges fires and burn ban violations in the days following the issuance of a county-wide burn ban.
KAUFMAN COUNTY, Texas — Fire departments throughout the county have been taxed with several larges fires and burn ban violations in the days following the issuance of a county-wide burn ban.
Earlier today, fire departments from Kaufman County and Van Zandy County responded to a fire in the between County Road 343 and VZ County Road 3812 for a large grass fire. Firefighters from Ables Springs, Terrell, Elmo, College Mound, Wills Point, Edgewood, and Tawakoni South responded to the fire.
The fire started in Van Zandt County and spread into Kaufman County and burned more than 20 acres and a small out-building, according to Kaufman County Fire Marshal Randy Richards.
A bulldozer and maintainer from the Van Zandt County Road and Bridge department were used to create a fire break, according to Van Zandt County Fire Marshal Chuck Allen who said the break allowed the fire departments to get a handle on the fire.
On Monday, just after 4 p.m., the Elmo Volunteer Fire Department responded to two significant fires which saw mutual aid from several area fire departments.
The first fire was off Hiram Road just north of Interstate 20 and involved approximately two to three acres, 14 bales of hay, and a torn down single-wide mobile home. The second fire consumed approximately 10 acres and several hay bales, including the baler, off County Road 350 just north of U.S. Highway 80.
On Monday, August 10, 2015, the Kaufman County Commissioners’ Court issued a 90-day burn ban which includes a ban on trash and barrel burning. A violation of the burn ban is a class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $500.
