Smoke from Possum Kingdom Lake fire, MM 373, I-20, Mingus, Texas
Today is a bad day, a tragic day for our area in west-central Texas. A firefighter has been killed in fighting a fire near Gorman, Texas, about thirty-five miles west of us.
Our place is not in danger from the uncontrolled fires. Last Sunday we had nine-tenths of an inch of rain so there has been some moisture about the grass and trees. Not so north and west of us a few miles. I have the F-250 at the ready to hitch the horse trailer and take our livestock out of the area. In DeLeon, Texas, close to Gorman where the fire took the life of the firefighter, they have set up large stock pens for cattle, sheep and horses to be maintained. Local feed stores, farmers and ranchers have donated hay.
If necessary, I will drive to the Equine Sports Medicine and Surgery area for Star to be stabled.
There are at least four fires in the immediate area north and west of us. Today we have had the highest sustained wind for the year at about 34 m.p.h. and gusts over 55 m.p.h. The Texas Highway Patrol has closed State Highway north of Strawn, Texas, a nearby village to us.
State Highway 16 closed by Texas Highway Patrol.
I had to run an errand to Mingus Quick Stop and I took these photographs of the sky and smoke. The fire is approximately sixty miles away from where I took these pictures. The smell is pungent and eyes burn. My wife, Brenda, drove to Abilene this afternoon to attend a conference and fires were also breaking out west of Cisco. Even within the pickup, she reported burning eyes from the smoke.
Facing northeast, MM 374, I-20, Possum Kingdom Fire, Mingus, Texas
Sage to Meadow ~ Jack Matthews 