About 20,000 acres of land are burning in Jeff Davis County from two fires, including one that is no longer considered even partially contained as of Monday night.

The two fires, Livermore Ranch and Spring Mountain, have not combined but are being treated as the same incident, said Patrick Allen, a spokesman with the Texas Forest Service. The Livermore Ranch dropped from 50 percent containment to 0 percent and had burned about 10,400 acres as Monday evening; Spring Mountain had burned about 10,000 acres and was 60 percent contained. Both had been at about 8,200 acres Monday morning.

Allen said that although the winds have picked up from Sunday, firefighters are still working active flanks on the north and northeast sides of the fire. Allen said a Type 1 Incident Management Team — the highest level of response — arrived Monday afternoon in Fort Davis.

While happening around the same time as the April to May Rock House Fire, that almost 315,000-acre blaze began on a high-wind day, Allen said, with winds exceeding 60 mph. Winds in Jeff Davis County on Monday were only about 20 mph with 30 mph gusts from storms.

“That was a firestorm type day and a firestorm type fire,” Allen said of the Rock House Fire, “and the weather conditions just aren’t similar to that today (Monday).”

However, thunderstorms are believed to have started both fires April 24, and storms also made it more difficult to attack the Livermore Ranch fire on Monday. Meteorological conditions at work Monday were expected to exist again Tuesday.

CBS 7 Weather Director Craig Stewart explained that warm, dry air from the west would interact with warm, moist air from the east leading to the possibility of thunderstorms in the lower Trans-Pecos in mid-afternoon, which might again hamper firefighter efforts in the area.

According to a Texas Forest Service news release, two Type 2 Incident helicopters, four single-engine air tankers and four heavy air tankers were in the air before storms rolled in. The air support was pulled down from about 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. before the storms left the area, Allen said.

“It’s in rough country, so not having the ability to have air resources on it makes it more challenging,” Allen said.

Allen said more resources are set to come in Tuesday bringing ground teams up to five Type 2 bulldozers, 12 Type 6 engines and four hand crews.

County Judge George Grubb said people in the county are somewhat apprehensive, but the practice from last year’s Rock House Fire has prepared them to be ready to help the 100 people displaced from their homes in the evacuation of the Davis Mountain Resort, which has only the Tomahawk Trail road connecting it to Highway 166.

The fire is about a mile away from the nearest structure at the Davis Mountain Resort and is heading that way, Allen said. He said the fire continues to get closer to the resort area and responders are stepping up evacuations there as they try to protect the homes from the approaching fire.

“It’s going to be the biggest (fire) we’ve had this year to this point,” Allen said. “It’s not going to be as big as Rock House in any form or fashion.”

@OAcourts

FIRE STATUS

Livermore Ranch: 10,346 acres burned after it started April 24 by lightning. The fire is about 50 percent contained as it threatens the Davis Mountain Resort.

Spring Mountain: 9,980 acres burned after it started April 24 by lightning. The fire is about 60 percent contained and does not threaten any structures.

5 P’s OF EVACUATION

People and pets

Papers

Prescriptions

Pictures

Personal computer

Source: Texas Forest Service