Dateline: April 13, 2006

Wildfires burn more property last week

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

Local firemen had their hands full again last week as parts of Donley County were consumed by flames.

Two separate fires destroyed two structures and threatened several homes, according to Clarendon First Assistant Chief Jeremy Powell.

An April 5 fire in Howardwick’s Saints’ Roost Division started about 1:30 p.m. and was caused by an electrical short on a power pole, Powell said.

The blaze burned a travel trailer, a pickup, and a storage building and consumed four to five acres; but it could have been much worse.

“If the wind had come from the north and the fire had jumped that road, it could have gotten into some people’s homes,” Powell said.

Clarendon and Howardwick firemen worked for four and one-half hours to contain the fire.

The next day, the Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department dispatched two units to Gray County in a mutual aid effort on a 1:30 p.m. fire south of Pampa and gave that community assistance for about eight hours.

The same afternoon, a downed power line started a wildfire on the Homer Hardin place near County Road K on SH 70 and eventually destroyed an estimated 5,000 acres.

The fire consumed two barns, but Powell said two or three homes were saved by the efforts of the firemen.

Clarendon and Howardwick firefighters were joined by motorgraders from Donley County and the City of Clarendon as they worked for more than eight hours to bring the blaze under control.

Powell said firemen returned to the Hardin fire on April 7 and 9 to keep an eye on hotspots and flare-ups.

With no rain in the forecast, county officials remind everyone that a burn ban remains in effect and is being strictly enforced.

The Texas Forest Service also offers these tips on preventing wildfires:

LPG tanks should be far enough away from buildings for valves to be shut off in case of fire. Keep the area around the tank clear of flammable vegetation.

Store gasoline in an approved safety can away from occupied buildings.

All combustibles such as firewood, wooden picnic tables, boats, stacked lumber, etc. should be kept away from structures.

Clear roof surfaces and gutters regularly to avoid build-up of flammable materials such as leaves and other debris.

Remove branches from trees to a height of 15 feet or more.

In rural areas, clear a fuel break of at least 3 times the fuel length around all structures.

Have fire tools handy such as: ladder long enough to reach your roof, shovel, rake, and a bucket or two for water.

Place connected garden hoses at all sides of your home for emergency use.

Assure that you and your family know all emergency exits from your home.

Assure that you and your family know all emergency exits from your neighborhood.