4,000 acres burned, 0 deaths, 0 homes lost ... 1 giant bullet dodged

Photo: Cindeka Nealy Photo: Cindeka Nealy Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close 4,000 acres burned, 0 deaths, 0 homes lost ... 1 giant bullet dodged 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

The grassfire that began in West Midland County and consumed more than 4,000 acres was contained late Tuesday, but firefighters continued to combat hot spots into the night.

The blaze forced hundreds of residents to evacuate their homes and businesses on the western outskirts of town Tuesday afternoon as the fire spread at breakneck speeds from the initial ignition point, Farm-to-Market 1788 and Highway 191. Despite the fire’s severity, only a shed was destroyed and no one was seriously injured in what firefighters are calling the “CEED” fire.

The fire was reportedly started by a cigarette thrown from a vehicle around 2:50 p.m. at the intersection near the Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center.

Because the PAC was still under construction, there was a natural firebreak between the dry kindling and the building. There was no damage to the building, University of Texas of the Permian Basin President David Watts told the Reporter-Telegram while watching the blaze shortly after it began.

“The building is in great shape,” he added as he stared into the distance watching the fire race toward town. “But when I heard fire, near the arts center, of course I was worried.”

Less than an hour after the fire ignited, the blaze had circumvented the PAC and moved about six miles east toward Midland. All along Highway 191 a thick wall of smoke and fire could be seen to the south. Midland police, Texas Department of Public Safety troopers, Midland County deputies and Border Patrol agents closed down several sections of Highway 191 and Loop 250 shortly after 3:30 p.m. because of the severity of the smoke.

The visibility at some portions of the highway and nearby neighborhoods was barely 30 feet.

The sustained 30 mph winds, with gusts up to 55 mph and the persistent dry conditions in the fields are what were responsible for how fast the fire moved, Fire Marshal Jeff Meiner told the Reporter-Telegram while blocking access to Highway 191’s south service road.

Two air tankers, roughly the size of a D7, helped to combat the extensive blazes because high winds prevented helicopter assistance, said Richard Reuse, a public information officer with the emergency management task force assigned to Midland County.

As the fire raced closer to the residential areas east of Loop 250, city officials issued evacuation warnings between FM 1788 and Midland Drive, and Ric Drive and Anetta Drive. The massive city evacuation square was chaotic Tuesday shortly before 5 p.m. Police were frantically running door-to-door, some in gas masks, in the thick clouds of smoke alerting residents to the potential danger and voluntary evacuation.

The odor and sight of smoke was strong, as windy gusts blew dirt and ash into the evacuation zone. All throughout the area, hundreds of residents could be seen packing their valuables and belongings into their vehicles.

Anna Adair, of the 300 block of South Bentwood Drive, was frantically packing her car after a Midland County deputy told her about the evacuations.

“I’m getting everything I can ... dogs and all,” she said.

Some, like N.J. Rountree and her boyfriend Art Franklin, watered down the eves of her daughter’s house and yard, trying to prevent a fire from setting the residence ablaze. Rountree said her daughter and her three grandchildren had already evacuated. Her daughter’s husband was grabbing photos and other valuables, Rountree said, in case the worst case scenario happened. The fires never moved into the residential neighborhoods.

On some streets the visibility was so low and wind so loud, evacuees could barely hear or see emergency vehicles a block away. Traffic was at a near standstill in the evacuation zones as police directed traffic and allowed emergency vehicles to enter the blocked-off perimeter.

There were several traffic accidents, some of which affected powerlines, one involved a man who was transported to Midland Memorial Hospital after a one-car accident into a powerline in the traffic and smoke-heavy areas of Thomason Drive and Raymond Road.

It took firefighters 14 units from multiple agencies, including the Greenwood and the Northeast volunteer fire departments, among others to gain control of the blaze. City officials lifted the evacuation and reopened closed roads at about 7:20 p.m.

Fire officials said they would have a more accurate number of the amount of acres consumed after another aerial surveillance mission today.

James Cannon can be reached at jcannon@mrt.com.