Burn ban implemented after firefighters battle huge blaze in Bell County

HARKER HEIGHTS, Texas (KWTX) - Firefighters from Bell County and the Texas A&M Forest Service converged on Still House Hollow Lake Sunday afternoon to battle a huge blaze that started in the Dana Peak Park area and jumped a road into a nearby neighborhood.

Harker Heights Fire Department Chief Paul Sims said the 68-acre fire was reported at about Noon Sunday. It gained intensity, jumped Comanche Road, and spread into The Ridge, a nearby subdivision.

The fire was reportedly 75 percent contained Sunday evening, said Bell County Spokesperson Victoria Wenkman.

In between four to six homes were in danger, Sims said, but no injuries or damage to structures had been reported as of Sunday evening.

“There were four to six homes that were directly in the path of the fire but the teams responded quickly and were able to knock the fire down and that helped contain it,” Sims said.

The occupants of the homes in the path of the fire earlier in the day have been allowed back into their homes.

“The neighbors came over here and told us that the fire was already close to the house,” said homeowner Melissa Everette, “We were in the house packing up what we wanted, and then another lady came from down the street and said the fire was already in the backyard.”

Everette said these brush fires are nothing new to her, but she had never witnesses a fire like the one near her home on Sunday evening. “It had been burning all day,” she said.

On Sunday evening, crews with the Starlight Flight Company were doing “bucket drops” on what remained of the fire. On Monday, crews continued “mop up” operations in the area torched by the fire.

A burn ban was implemented in Bell County effective 10 a.m. Monday. County officials warn the public not to burn anything because “the conditions are great” for fires.

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