LARGE GRASS FIRE CONTAINED AT LAKE SOMERVILLE

  

Multiple Washington County fire departments battled a large grass fire on Sunday at Lake Somerville.

According to a social media notice late Sunday from the Rocky Creek Volunteer Fire Department, the fire burned approximately 37 acres east of Yegua Creek Park.

Rocky Creek Volunteer Assistant Chief Tim Hamff says units were first dispatched shortly after 3:15 p.m. for a report of a smoke investigation.  Once it was determined to be an established brush fire in U.S. Army Corps of Engineer territory, the response was upgraded to include members of the Gay Hill, Chappell Hill, Salem and Meyersville Volunteer Fire Departments.  The Texas A&M Forest Service and Texas Division of Emergency Management also assisted.

According to Hamff, all of the firefighting was done by hand and with dozers, as the thick, wooded terrain prevented fire trucks from entering.  Firefighters set up containment lines around the fire to prevent further spread and stop the threat to structures and people in the surrounding areas. 

Hamff says units cleared the call Sunday around 11 p.m. and were back at the scene as of 9 a.m. today (Monday).  A Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS) strike team out of Smithville is also responding to walk the territory and check for any spot fires that may pop up due to the reduction in humidity forecasted today.