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Firefighters gain ground on Texas wildfires on Saturday

EASTLAND, Texas (AP) - Fire crews in Texas made progress Saturday against a massive complex of wildfires that have killed a deputy sheriff and burned at least 50 homes, officials said.

'œProgress has been made, but fire activity has picked up with rising temperatures and lower humidity,'ť said Matt Ford, spokesperson for Texas A&M Forest Services. He said about 25% of the flames were contained, up from about 4% late Friday as the fire burned thick brush and grass fields.

The fires had burned about 130 square miles (330 square kilometers), including about 70 square miles (185 square kilometers) in the Eastland Complex, according to the agency. That area is around 120 miles (193 kilometers) west of Dallas.

Gusty winds were expected to return Sunday, again raising the wildfire threat to critical levels in western and central Texas, Ford said.

'œWe are predicting weather severity to increase'ť Sunday, said Ford. 'œFire activity may increase based on weather conditions (but) containment lines are holding'ť thus far.

The National Weather Service forecast for the area called for high temperatures in the low 80s on Sunday with winds of 15-20 mph (24-32 kph) and gusts up to 30 mph (48 kph).

The forecast also calls for a 90% chance of rain on Monday, which Ford said would be welcome, but the winds could shift and drive the fire in another direction.

'œAny kind of water source or rain is going to be beneficial,'ť in extinguishing the flames, Ford said. 'œWe'll hope for the best and prepare for the worst.'ť

Gov. Greg Abbott said late Friday that at least 50 homes had been destroyed by flames with more possibly to be found. He declared a disaster in the 11 counties hardest hit by wildfires. The Texas A&M Forest Services warned that fires could also affect parts of Oklahoma and Kansas, and Nebraska and warned of an extreme fire risk in those states.

The Eastland County Sheriff's Office released more details on the death of Deputy Sgt. Barbara Fenley. In a statement, the office said she was going door to door, getting residents to evacuate their homes Thursday and it was 'œlast heard that she was going to check on an elderly individual.'ť

'œWith the extreme deteriorating conditions and low visibility from smoke, Sgt. Fenley ran off the roadway and was engulfed in the fire,'ť the sheriff's statement said.

About 18,000 people live in Eastland County and about 475 homes were evacuated in the area, Ford said.

'œWe do have assessment teams on the ground investigating exactly how many homes were lost,'ť Ford said.

Several months of dry, windy weather have fueled deadly wildfires in Kansas and Oklahoma, including one a few weeks ago. In remote, western Nebraska ranching country, a large wildfire has been burning for several days. Meteorologists said they were hopeful that the expected rain showers early next week across the Plains would reduce the risk.

The fires caused hazy conditions hundreds of miles away and prompted automated phone messages from the Houston Fire Department and the city's Office of Emergency Management on Friday alerting area residents to smoke and ash.

Anna Olvera leans into Texas Gov. Greg Abbott as he puts his arm around her before presenting her with a flag in honor of her sister-in-law Barbara Fenley Friday, March 18, 2022, in Eastland, Texas. Fenley, a sergeant with the Eastland County Sheriff's Office, was killed in Thursday's wild fire. Abbott paused his press conference at the Eastland Fire Department to recognize Fenley. (Ronald W. Erdrich/The Abilene Reporter-News via AP) The Associated Press
Fire burns in south Eastland County, Texas Friday, March 18, 2022. The Eastland Complex Fire consumed over 45,000 acres and claimed the life of Eastland County Deputy Barbara Fenley. (Ronald W. Erdrich/The Abilene Reporter-News via AP) The Associated Press
Priscilla Maynard holds a chicken while taking on the phone in front of a burned home Friday, March 18, 2022 near Carbon, Texas in Eastland County. Fire crews in West Texas hope to make progress Saturday against a massive complex of wildfires that have killed one person and burned at least 50 homes, officials said. (Ronald W. Erdrich/The Abilene Reporter-News via AP) The Associated Press
Bre Riggs, left, takes the ceramic decorations from Priscilla Maynard who had retrieved from the surrounding ash of the home of their friends Raquel and Cruz Robles Friday, March 18, 2022, in Eastland County, Texas. The house burned the day before in Eastland County's Kidd Fire. (Ronald W. Erdrich/The Abilene Reporter-News via AP) The Associated Press
Line workers replace burned utility poles on State Highway 6 between Carbon and Eastland, Texas, Friday, March 18, 2022. Dozens of workers were seen working to restore power and other utilities to the area after destructive wild fires the day before swept through. (Ronald W. Erdrich/The Abilene Reporter-News via AP) The Associated Press
Gov. Greg Abbott embraces Anna Olvera after a press conference at the Eastland Fire Department Friday, March 18, 2022, in Eastland, Texas. Olvera's sister-in-law, Sgt. Barbara Fenley of the Eastland County Sheriff's Office, died in one of the county's wild fires Thursday. (Ronald W. Erdrich/The Abilene Reporter-News via AP) The Associated Press
An "X" on a pickup Friday signifies it had been checked and cleared by personnel responding to the fire in Carbon, Texas, Thursday, March 18, 2022. Many homes and other buildings in Carbon were consumed by the Eastland County fire. (Ronald W. Erdrich/The Abilene Reporter-News via AP) The Associated Press
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