Interstate Reopened, Fire Partially Contained
Posted/updated on: September 6, 2011 at 2:36 am
LONGVIEW — Almost one hour after weather forecasters issued a fire danger alert for most of East Texas, authorities responded to a grass fire along Interstate 20 between Lansing Switch Road and Loop 281/FM 968.
The fire sent thick, white smoke across a more than three-mile stretch of the interstate, forcing Texas Department of Public Safety troopers to shut down the freeway in both directions, and DPS troopers from Gregg County were called to assist with directing traffic on nearby county roads.
Big Oak Park trailer park was evacuated due to the fires in the area. Interstate 20 has been reopened to traffic in both directions. Harrison County Fire Marshal Thomas Mock says he is hopeful that the fire is now about 60 percent contained. Several departments remained in the area battling the blaze. First Baptist church in Hallsville opened up for evacuees.
Shortly after 10 a.m. Sunday, the National Weather Service issued a “Red Flag Warning” until 7 p.m. for locations west of Marshall and north of Nacogdoches and Rusk. Sustained winds from the north and north-northeast increased throughout the day to as much as 30 mph, while humidity dropped to between 20 and 25 percent. Under a Red Flag Warning, extreme fire weather conditions such as dry vegetation and strong winds exist.
