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Battle continues against 'Surprise Fire' in Palo Pinto; concern turns to fireworks

A wildfire that scorched more than 3,200 acres of land in rural Palo Pinto County was about 40 percent contained as of Wednesday afternoon.

PALO PINTO COUNTY -- A wildfire that scorched more than 3,200 acres of land in rural Palo Pinto County was about 40 percent contained as of Wednesday afternoon.

The “Surprise Fire” as it was dubbed broke out late Monday about five miles west of Palo Pinto and 60 miles west of Fort Worth. While progress has been made on the fire, late Wednesday afternoon flames were stirring back up due to an increase in wind. Highway 180, which had re-opened, was shut down again.

The concern after sundown was turning to fireworks, and the potential for an errant ember to spark a new fire. “The weather is definitely a little bit better than it has been the past couple of days, our temperature is down, there’s a little more humidity, but definitely still potential for fire growth,” said Erin O’Connor with the Texas A&M Forest Service. “We just ask people to think and be really careful.”

Palo Pinto County enacted a disaster declaration, which banned the use of fireworks except in professional shows. Selling them and buying them is legal, but firing them off is not while the disaster declaration is in effect. “Save them,” said Palo Pinto County Sheriff Brett McGuire. “Hopefully we get a little rain on Saturday - that’s in the forecast, not a lot, but a little - hold on to them, and let’s do it when it’s a little safer.”

Johnson, Hood, Parker and Erath Counties enacted similar bans due to extremely dry conditions.

McGuire believes lightning likely caused the Surprise Fire.

Crews are accepting donations of food and water for firefighters at Center of Life in Mineral Wells on Highway 281.

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