Evacuations in Smith County; Five Homes Destroyed

SMITH COUNTY — High winds spreading flames fast destroy several homes and force a set of evacuations Monday afternoon in eastern Smith County. Fire crews went door to door on Farm Road 2767 and County Road 239 to evacuate families from their houses. The Jackson Heights Fire Department posted a command center to control the blaze. Smith County Fire Officials tell KETK the fire started off CR 239 in a residential area. Five homes have been destroyed and one home has been heavily damaged. Two of the homes were unoccupied at the time of the fire and the residents were able to escape the other two. Homes in a two mile area have been evacuated.

State Highway 31 and county roads in the area are now reopened. The fire will continue to burn or several days, but officials say no structures are currently in danger. According to a county press statement, volunteer fire departments from around the county will continue to monitor hot spots in the area until the fire is fully contained. Officials believe the fire might have started after charcoal from a grill fell on the ground, but they add they are not positive at this moment. An 18-wheeler holding animal feed was also destroyed in the fire. Water tanker trucks have been assisting due to low pressure and the difficulty of getting water to the area.