RENDON, Texas — Crews were working on a fire that spread to homes near Rendon in southern Tarrant County, officials said Tuesday evening.
By 5 a.m. Wednesday, the fire was reported to be 100% contained. Crews were working to put out any small flames at popped up at the time.
According to the Rendon Fire Department, crews were working a fire in the 5500 block of Jessica Lane that spread to structures nearby.
In an update around 8:30 p.m., the Tarrant County fire marshal said the blaze began in the kitchen area of a home and that it quickly spread to other homes and structures due to the extreme drought conditions.
So far, at least three homes have been destroyed and five other structures were damaged by flames. It's unclear what type of structures have been damaged.
Resident Elizabeth Taylor told WFAA she lost her home in the fire.
"That’s all my everything, I mean I'm at a loss for words. I don’t know what to say. I guess I can look at the positive side and say I got rid of a lot of stuff I didn’t have to mess with," Taylor said.
Officials said crews have slowed the fire's progression and that they're now in the "mop up" phase to clean the area and ensure it is safe.
At least 16 agencies, including Fort Worth and Crowley fire departments, helped fight the flames. The American Red Cross is also responding to help affected residents.
The Tarrant County fire marshal is sharing some lifesaving advice after the incident in Rendon.
The Tarrant County fire marshal believes fire spared one of the homes nearby because they keep their grass cut low.
Rendon firefighters were able to get the out-of-control blaze under control despite several challenges and thanks to mutual aid from the Fort Worth Fire Department.
There was only one hydrant nearby, so FWFD assisted with the challenge of getting water to the scene. The other challenge involved a motorist who damaged a fire hose after driving over it.
The fire marshal also shared that keeping the firefighters safe was also a challenge due to the heat. The fire department battled the flames in shifts to give those on the front line relief before returning to the battle.
Fire Marshal Randy Renois stressed there are things homeowners can do ahead of time in case of a fire emergency.
"Clean out your gutters, have gutter hoses around ready to spray if you need to. Don't try to fight the fire. If it's coming at you hot and heavy, be prepared to get out well before it gets to you," said Randy Renois.
The fire marshal released the property back to the owners, but the investigation is ongoing. Renois also shared the investigation always includes if there were working smoke detectors in the home.
This is a developing story, please check back for updates.