Single Publication

August 8, 2023

Size: 1,400 acres

Containment: 60%

Date Started: August 6, 2023

Cause: Unknown 

Structures: There has been confirmation of three outbuildings lost.

Evacuations: There were voluntary evacuations in place initially but those have been since lifted.

The Double Back Fire started on August 6, 2023, and was responded to by multiple fire departments from Johnson County initially. Texas A&M Forest Service was requested for assistance at 3:00 p.m. and responded with aviation resources, heavy equipment, and engines from Texas A&M Forest Service and Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS). Multiple departments from Johnson, Hood, Erath, Bosque, Somervell, and Parker counties are working in Unified command with Texas A&M Forest Service, and Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM).

Closures: There are no road closures at this time. There is a TFR in place currently (NOTAM #3/9352; https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_3_9352.html). It is important to remember that if you fly we can’t, any aircraft in the area will cause aerial operations to stop.

Yesterday: Resources completed constructing containment lines around the fire with heavy equipment. As the day warmed engine crews worked to remove any areas of unburned fuel within the burned area by intentionally setting fire to them. By choosing to burn these areas intentionally resources could be prepared for the burns instead of allowing them to burn naturally over the course of the next several days to weeks. A helicopter was used yesterday afternoon to assist with reducing some increased fire activity along the fire’s edge.  

Today: Engines are back on scene today and will be working to continue mop-up operations, searching out any and all smokes, flames, and heat and putting them out to reduce the chance of any further spread. A dozer crew is standing by for any additional growth or slop overs from this fire, all of the rest of the heavy equipment has been released to return to their duty stations in preparation for continued high fire danger this week. Engines will continue to be on scene all day today working to make sure that no further spread occurs.  

Weather and Fire Behavior: Higher winds are expected today out of the south, continuing into tomorrow as well. Temperatures and relative humidity should be similar to yesterday’s but will have recover to 75% tonight. Very high to extreme fire danger will continue across North Texas for the next several days.

Fire Information

Adam Turner

Public Information Officer, Texas A&M Forest Service

Email: adam.turner@tfs.tamu.edu

Phone: 940-328-9158

Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/txtxs-storage-fire

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