Winds reignite Spicewood grassfire
A grassfire along Texas 71 at County Road 401 in Spicewood kept reigniting over a four-day period due to high winds. The fire burned about 5 acres of land along the roadway. Staff photo by Suzanne Freeman
High winds kept a Spicewood grassfire going over a four-day period March 10-13. The fire started that Thursday at the intersection of Texas 71 and County Road 401, ultimately burning about 5 acres of land on the north side of the state highway and east of the county road.
“It started because of the blowout of a tire on a trailer being dragged by a truck,” Spicewood Fire and Rescue Chief Sam Stacks told DailyTrib.com, adding that sparks from the rim grinding on asphalt ignited the dry grass. “It ended up getting into some very thick wooded areas, making it difficult for fire crews to access. It took several hours to get it contained.”
Firefighters had to monitor the site until sometime Sunday afternoon, when the flareups and smoke finally died down to nothing.
The Texas A&M Forest Service sent a crew and two bulldozers used to cut down a line around the perimeter of the fire.
“That stopped the progression,” Stacks said. “That’s how we were able to contain the fire.”
No structures were involved or ever in danger, he continued.
The Spicewood department was assisted by fire and rescue teams from Burnet and Travis counties.
