Eastland Complex Update

March 21, 2022

  

Eastland Complex:

Acres: 54,463

Containment: 60%

Cause:  Under Investigation

Total acres for the complex are up to 54,463 containment is at 60%. Three new fire have started as of yesterday, the Cedar Mountain, Blowing Basin and Mangum fires and are included in the Eastland Complex. Total structure loss is 158 for the complex.

 Kidd Fire: 42,333 acres (mapped), 45% contained, (Carbon and Gorman). Fire was active on March 12th, but due to precipitation on the morning of 21st, fire has decreased significantly. 142 structures have been reported lost as of 15:00.

Wheat Field Fire: 7,268 acres (mapped), 60% contained, (NW of Rising Star). Fire activity was moderate yesterday 20th, precipitation received 21st has further reduced fire activity. 7 structures reported lost as of 15:00.

Oak Mott Fire: 4,031 acres (mapped), 80% contained, (SE of Rising Star). Minimal fire behavior was reported yesterday, crews continue to construct line and are making good progress. 6 structures lost as of 15:00.

Walling Fire: 383 acres (mapped), 100% contained, (W of Nimrod).

Cedar Mountain Fire: 179 acres, 40% contained, (Cisco and Eastland). Fire was showing a lot of activity yesterday, but activity has diminished with the precipitation today. 1 Home lost as of 15:00.

Blowing Basin Fire: 241 acres, 60% contained, (Cross Plains). Fire was showing a lot of activity yesterday, activity had moderated today, crews continue to construct line around the fire. 2 Homes lost as of 15:00.

Mangum: 11 acres, 95% contained, (Next to Kidd Fire). Fire is located South East of the Kidd Fire, but was a separate start. The fire showed a lot of activity yesterday, but is moderate today and crews have made good progress.

Eastland Complex Fire

Morning Update 10:00 am
March 20, 2022 

Eastland Complex:
Acres: 54,015
Containment: 30%
Cause: Under investigation
 
Kidd Fire: 42,333 acres (mapped), 25% contained, (Carbon and Gorman). Kidd fire still continues to be the main fire of concern. For operational plans today, crews will focus on completing containment lines around the Kidd fire. Command anticipates for line to be completed around fire today. Other ground resources will be used for mop up and patrol of the fire, along with aviation resources being utilized when needed on the fire. 

For the Kidd Fire, there has been a total of 142 structures reported lost. No differentiation between homes and outbuildings at this time.

Wheat Field Fire: 7,268 acres (mapped), 40% contained, (NW of Rising Star). Fire crews will work on improving containment lines. Along with continuing to work on mop up and patrol of the fire, extinguishing any hotspots.  

Oak Mott Fire: 4,031 acres (mapped), 60% contained, (SE of Rising Star). Resources will continue to mop up and patrol the fire extinguishing any hot spots that are located. 

Walling Fire: 383 acres (mapped), 100% contained, (W of Nimrod) 

Eastland Complex Update
March 19, 2022 
 
Cause:  Under Investigation 

Eastland Complex:
Acres: 54,015
Containment: 30%
 
Kidd Fire: 42,333 acres (mapped), 25% contained, (Carbon and Gorman). Fire was very active mid afternoon today, March 19, 2022. Aviation and ground resources were utilized to check and suppress active parts of the fire. Ground personnel continued to build line with heavy equipment along with mopping up and securing fire perimeters.

Wheat Field Fire: 7,268 acres (mapped), 40% contained, (NW of Rising Star). Fire activity had remained moderate as of today, March 19, 2022. Ground personnel were able to complete containment lines around the fire this afternoon. Crews continued work on mopping up and holding containment.  

Oak Mott Fire: 4,031 acres (mapped), 50% contained, (SE of Rising Star). Minimal fire behavior was reported for today, March 19, 2022. Ground personnel continued to secure fire perimeters along with mop and holding of the fire.

Walling Fire: 383 acres (mapped), 100% contained, (W of Nimrod).

Eastland Complex Update
March 19, 2022 
12:30 pm 
 
Size: 45,383 acres
Containment: 15%
Total resources: 403

Texas A&M Forest Service (TAMFS) and Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS) responders remain focused on life safety operations and structure protection. Working alongside local and state partners, firefighters worked to increase containment on each of the complex fires.

A cold morning today will give way to a warm afternoon as highs reach the middle to upper 70s. The light southerly winds will gradually increase to around 10-12 mph with slightly higher gusts. Relative humidity values today will once again be in the middle teens. A Grass Fire Danger Statement has been issued within the burn area to account for the elevated threat for additional fire starts today. Slight recovery is expected tonight as relative humidity values increase into the upper 40% range. The overnight recovery will be short-lived as another dangerous fire weather day develops on Sunday. A Fire Weather Watch is now in place, set to begin Sunday morning and continue through the evening hours. Relative humidity values will drop to the low to mid teens once again, but much warmer and windier conditions are expected to develop compared to today. Rapid fire spread will once again be possible Sunday afternoon/evening.

For aviation on the Eastland Complex today, Texas A&M Forest Service will have:
1 air attack platform,
3 fire boss single engine air tankers,
3 large air tankers,
1 type 1 helicopter,
1 type 3 helicopter, and
1 National Guard Chinook

Kidd Fire:
Estimated size: 34,000 acres
Containment: 20%
Date Started: March 17, 2022 
Cause: Unknown 
 
Yesterday, there was increased activity on the southern portion of the fire. Ground crews, including dozers and motor graders, along with suppression aircraft worked on hotspots and kept the fire from progressing in this area. Engine crew were focused on mop up operations around structures.

Ground resources will continue building containment lines around the fire perimeter. Crews will work to secure communities at risk and continue mop up operations around structures throughout the impact area. Engines will be patrolling containment lines to check for hotspots and mitigate any issues that may pose a threat to containment.

Wheat Field:
Estimated size: 5,000 acres
Containment: 20% 
Date Started: March 17, 2022 
Cause: Unknown 
 
There was increased fire activity across the fire area yesterday, but ground and aviation resources were able to work hotpots. There is currently no threat to the community of Rising Star. Today, resources will focus on constructing, widening and improving containment lines across the fire area. Engines will patrol the area and focus on areas of concentrated heat where vegetation continues to burn and smolder.
 
Oak Mott:
Estimated size: 6,000 acres
Containment: 50% 
Date Started: March 17, 2022 
Cause: Unknown

The fire is completely surrounded by containment lines. Crews will continue to improve these lines while also extinguishing hotpots across the fire area today.
 
Walling:
Estimated size: 383 acreage
Containment: 100%
Date Started: March 16, 2022 
Cause: Unknown

Evacuations and Closures
Shelters have been opened at the following location for anyone impacted by the fire:

• First Baptist of Eastland (405 S Seaman St in Eastland),
  
• First Fruit Christian Fellowship (325 W Lexington, Gorman)
  
• Myrtle Wilks Community Center (1498 I-20 Frontage, Cisco)
  
• Gorman Community Center (118 S Kent St, Gorman).
  

Additionally, volunteer organizations are stationed at Siebert Elementary (100 Little Maverick Trail, Eastland). Hay and feed, as well as a temporary animal shelter, are available at the Texas Cattle Exchange (9009 I-20, Eastland).

Damages and Injuries
A fatality has occurred on the Eastland Complex on March 17, 2022. Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the individual during this difficult time.

No other injuries have been reported at this time. 

50 single residences have been destroyed by the Eastland Complex.

Eastland Complex Update
March 18, 2022 
9:30 am 
 
Size: 38,000
Containment: 2%

Texas A&M Forest Service (TAMFS) and Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS) responders remain focused on life safety operations, including evacuation assistance and structure protection. A wind advisory is in effect through Friday at 4:00, increasing the difficulty of containment operations. The northerly cold front entered the area around 9:00 pm, creating a new head fire on the previous right flank. There is no precipitation forecasted, though relative humidity should peak around 65% Friday morning. 

For aviation on the Eastland Complex today, Texas A&M Forest Service will have:
1 air attack platform,
3 fire boss single engine air tankers,
3 large air tankers,
1 type 1 helicopter,
1 type 3 helicopter, and
1 National Guard Chinook

Kidd Fire: 
Estimated size: 33,000 acres
Containment: 1%
Date Started: March 17, 2022 
Cause: Unknown 
 
Structures in Carbon and  were heavily impacted when the Kidd Fire, one of the four in the complex, passed through on the afternoon of March 17th.  Evacuations and road closures in Carbon, Lake Leon and Gorman, and outlying rural areas are ongoing. After the cold front passed through yesterday evening, the fire began moving in a southernly direction, causing the evacuation of the City of Gorman. Multiple highway closures have been enacted due to extreme fire behavior. See DriveTexas.org for the latest in closure information. 

Aviation was unable to fly yesterday due to hazardous, windy conditions, but are expected to work on the Kidd Fire as possible today. This includes an air attack platform, which provides situational awareness and supervision to aerial resources, and multiple single engine air tankers (SEATS) and helicopters. 


Wheat Field:
Estimated size: 5,000 acres
Containment: 2% 
Date Started: March 17, 2022 
Cause: Unknown 
 
Responders focused night operation efforts on structure protection and containment line creation where possible. A new head fire started moving in the direction of Rising Star after the cold front moved through the area, but crews were able to stop it's forward progression. Two TIFMAS strike teams stayed onsite at the Wheat Field Fire through the night, while other crews came off the line passed midnight in order to respond this morning.
 
Oak Mott:
Estimated size: 4,500 acres
Containment: 10% 
Date Started: March 17, 2022 
Cause: Unknown
 
Fire behavior on the Oak Mott Fire south west of Rising Star moderated around midnight. Multiple reports of structures saved through efforts of responders. 
 
Walling:
Estimated size: 383 acreage
Containment: 95%
Date Started: March 16, 2022 
Cause: Unknown 

Containment lines held up well overnight on the Walling Fire. Fire behavior increased yesterday afternoon, with reports of single tree torching. The fire was staffed with two fire engines. 

Eastland Complex Update
March 17, 2022 
10:00 pm 
 
Size: 38,000
Containment: 0%
Date Started: March 17, 2022 
Cause: Unknown

A series of new ignitions from this afternoon, and one prior fire, the Wallings Fires, were combined today to form the Eastland Complex. Texas A&M Forest Service (TAMFS) and Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS) responders remain focused on life safety operations, including evacuation assistance and structure protection.
 
Structures in Carbon have been impacted when the Kidd Fire, one of the four in the complex, passed through this afternoon.  Evacuations and road closures in Carbon, Lake Leon and Gorman, and outlying rural areas are ongoing. 

Estimated Acreage of Individual Fires
Kidd Fire: 30,000
Wheat Field: 4,000
Oak Mott: 4,000 
Walling: 383, 95% contained 

A wind advisory is in effect through Friday at 4:00, increasing the difficulty of containment operations. The northerly cold front entered the area around 9:00 pm, creating a new head fire on the previous right flank. There is no precipitation forecasted, though relative humidity should peak around 65% Friday morning. 

 March 17, 2022
9:00 pm

Evacuations have been ordered and are ongoing in multiple areas in Eastland County, Texas. Due to the northwestern wind shift the approximately 475 homes in the City of Gorman are being evacuated and instructed to head south.

Shelters have been opened at Eastland First Baptist Church, Eastland FEMA Shelter / Siebert Elementary, and Mountain Top Church/ Wilks Center


The City of Carbon has been impacted by the fire and Lake Leon has been evacuated. 

March 17, 2022
7:30 pm

Evacuations have been ordered and are ongoing in multiple areas in Eastland County, Texas. The City of Carbon has been impacted by the fire and Lake Leon is currently being evacuated. 

March 18, 2022

1000 AM

Size: 99 acres
Containment: 100%
Date Started: March 17, 2022
Cause: Vehicle

Local fire department crews are continuing to monitor this fire today and Texas A&M Forest Service (TAMFS) resources have been released as of last night. 4 structures are confirmed lost due to this The cause of the fire was determined to be related to a vehicle.

This will be the last update on this incident. 

March 17, 2022

8:30 PM

Size: 99 acres
Containment: 75%
Date Started: March 17, 2022
Cause: Unknown

Texas A&M Forest Service (TAMFS) and local fire department crews are mopping up and bolstering containment line at this time. Fire behavior is minimal and remaining Aviation resources have been released.

Areas around the fire are still closed at the time of this post, including parts of Highway 771 and CR 2310 E.