Blazes spark west of Big Spring Wednesday 

By Thomas Jenkins
Staff Writer
Any reprieve to the string of grass fires that plagued Howard County last month is most likely over, according to local fire officials, as a pair of blazes west of Big Spring Wednesday afternoon consumed more than 500 acres.

According to Tommy Sullivan, Howard County Volunteer Fire Department chief, two unrelated fires near the Howard and Martin county line on Interstate Highway 20 had him and his firefighters in the trenches once again.

“The first fire was reported near Cauble Road at approximately 2:30 p.m.,” said Sullivan. “That fire was caused by a downed power line. While we were fighting that fire, a call came in that a second fire had started near FM 818. That fire was caused by a train which had derailed. It hadn't overturned or anything like that, but a set of wheels had come off, sending sparks flying everywhere. That fire was reported at approximately 3:22 a.m.”

Sullivan said more than 250 acres were lost in the Cauble Road fire, while more than 300 acres were consumed by the fires near FM 818.

“We had units working at both fires. We also had the Forest Service and Martin County Fire Department assisting us,” said Sullivan. “The FM 818 fire was extinguished at about 5:30 p.m., and we had guys working on the Cauble Road fire until about 8 p.m.”

Sullivan said no structures were damaged by the fires, and only minimal damage to power lines near the Cauble Road fire was reported.

No injuries were reported as a result of the fire, a fact Sullivan attributes to a higher power.

“Any time we can fight a fire of that magnitude and everyone comes home in one piece, you're thankful,” said Sullivan, who — along with his volunteer firefighters — have been working almost non-stop putting out grass fires since the first part of the year. “We're blessed, there's no other way to explain it.”

While Sullivan is optimistic concerning the wellbeing of his firefighters, the fire chief's optimism doesn't extend to any break in the number of fires the HCVFD will be responding to in the near future.

“Up until we got some rain a few weeks back, we were responding to one, sometimes two or three fires a day,” said Sullivan. “And while that inch of rain helped, we haven't received any more significant rain since then, so we're looking at the same sort of situation we were in last month. Things have greened up a little, but it's not enough, and if we don't get some more rain soon, that new vegetation is just going to die out and add to the fuel load. It doesn't look very promising at all.”

While no one can predict a wildfire, Sullivan said local residents can take measures to help firefighters if their home becomes endangered.

“I really can't stress this enough, but it's vital our citizens be very careful right now,” said Sullivan. “One of the most important measures people can take right now is to make sure they have a 75 feet to 100 feet fire break around their home. Get rid of brush and other items that could burn. That can really help firefighters if their home becomes threatened.”

Contact Staff Writer Thomas Jenkins at 263-7331 ext. 232 or by e-mail at