Firefighters sent to combat wildfires

TYLER – Fire crews from Longview and Smith County have deployed to the Texas Panhandle to assist in battling the Lavender Fire in Pampa and the 8 Ball Fire in Howardwick. The deployments are part of coordinated operations through the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) and the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS). According to our news partner KETK and Smith County ESD2, firefighters were sent to the Lavender Fire in Pampa, located north of Amarillo, to assist with suppression efforts. As of 11:20 a.m. on Thursday, the fire had burned more than 12,000 acres and was 20% contained.

The Longview Fire Department also deployed personnel to the Lavender Fire and the 8 Ball Fire in Howardwick, about an hour southeast of Amarillo. Officials said four Longview Emergency Medical Task Force members and one Medical Incident Support Team member have been staged in Amarillo since Monday.

Crews have been assigned to incidents near Howardwick, including the 8 Ball Fire, which has burned about 13,000 acres and was approximately 55% contained as of Thursday afternoon. An additional four personnel were deployed through TIFMAS to support wildfire suppression efforts across the region. The Longview deployment is expected to last at least seven days and could extend up to 14 days, depending on conditions.