Another Update on Northeast Texas Fire Complex

NORTHEAST TEXAS — Firefighters are working with Texas Forest Liaisons to check for residual heat and mop up, as needed, on a number of smaller active carryover fires scattered throughout Northeast Texas. Crews are patrolling for smoke, checking existing containment lines for leaf litter, utilizing handheld infrared devices to detect residual heat, and utilizing GPS to record fire perimeters. Firefighting resources also are available to assist with initial attack on any new starts that may occur. Some resources are demobilizing as fire containment objectives are met.

“Our liaisons greatly appreciate private land owners working cooperatively with us to gain access to the carryover fires,” said Texas Forest Service Regional Forester Wes Moorehead. “Given the extreme conditions and high potential for reburns, it is important we take the time to be very thorough in containing and mopping up these fires,” added Moorehead.

Tuesday, crews visited approximately half of the assigned 60 carryover fires; approximately half of those small fires showed no residual smoke. Firefighters also were assigned to the Angelina River Bottom Fire, a large 6,500-acre carryover fire. Crews discovered a number of smokes in the interior of the fire; officials say mop up efforts for this fire will take several days to complete. They add that light morning winds and mostly clear skies have favored cooling and allowed very good recoveries to settle in across the area.

The Texas Forest Service and the local volunteer fire departments are asking the public to continue to work on defensible space around their homes and property to lower risk in their community from wildfire. They ask you to take responsibility for the safety of your family and animals and develop your evacuation plan. Go to http://www.wildlandFireRSG.org and http://www.firewise.org for additional information on defensible space and evacuation preparedness

Officials say crews will continue to patrol, and mop up as needed, the larger contained fires in the Northeast Texas Fire Complex. Firefighters will also continue patrolling several smaller fires within the Northeast Texas Fire Complex area. Air support currently assigned to the complex includes two heavy helicopters . Resources are beginning to demobilize as progress is made on containing the fires. Total personnel working on the Northeast Texas Fire Complex is currently 234.

Disaster Assistance and Donations

The Red Cross has arranged for local charities to access the Coordinated Assistance Network (CAN) system for those needing disaster assistance. Through CAN, caseworkers have access to secure client information providing collaboration and ease of referral between agencies. Call 800-RED-CROSS for additional information.
You can contact your local chapter of the American Red Cross for a list of agencies that are currently accepting donations.

Recovery & Needed Donations for Displaced Animals

Texas Animal Health Service has been working with AgriLIFE Marion and Cass County Extension Service offices and the Texas Department of Agriculture for recovery of large and small animals. Contact Eddie Hayes at 903-277-3979 for additional information. Hay donations are being accepted for horses and cattle. Drop off for animal feed is at the Linden Rodeo Arena on State Highway 8 in Linden. For additional small animal recovery, contact Caroline Weddings 903-790-9012 at the Marion County Humane Society.