Texas wildfires destroy homes, force evacuations

Texas wildfires destroy homes, force evacuations

5 April 2009

published by www.google.com

Tx, USA — Authorities in Texas say a wildfire that briefly threatened one small town has destroyed four houses and damaged about 20 others.

The Texas Forest Service said Sunday that the fire near the Panhandle town of Wheeler was 25 percent contained after covering 11,000 acres of grass and brush.

Officials had told the town’s 1,300 residents to evacuate Saturday but the evacuation order was lifted late Saturday.

Forest Service spokeswoman Jeanne Eastham said another fire just northwest of Fort Worth in Jack County was 65 percent contained Sunday after blackening about 2,200 acres. Twelve to 18 households were evacuated Saturday but they also were allowed to return home.

The Forest Service said 24 firefighters had been treated for smoke inhalation.