Wildfire in Polk, Trinity counties becomes largest in East Texas history
Wildfire in Polk, Trinity counties becomes largest in East Texas history
21 June 2011
published by www.khou.com
USA — GROVETON, Texas A wildfire in Trinity and Polk counties continued to burn Tuesday, growing to more than 20,000 acres.
The blaze is now the largest fire on record in East Texas history, officials said.
Still, the Texas Forest Service said the fire was about 40 percent contained Tuesday.
So far, two homes and six cabins have been destroyed.
National Forest Service spokeswoman Rae Brooks said the fire started after noon on Friday in the Davy Crockett National Forest, about 130 miles northeast of Houston.
A mandatory evacuation order was issued in Trevat on Saturday night, along with a voluntary evacuation order in Helmic and Nigton. But all of those residents have since been allowed to return home, and no additional evacuations had been ordered as of Tuesday.
“Its very scary you know, of course if they tell you to leave, its mandatory you know, I will leave,” said Trinity County resident Joyce Carolton. “But Id like to stay as long as I.”
The fire is being called the “Bearing Fire,” because it started after a person hauling a trailer pulled off the road with a hot wheel bearing, which ignited dry grass nearby, Texas Forest Service spokesman Ralph Cullom said.
