Dublin joins in fire fights
Dublin Volunteer firefighters were among dozens of departments (which also included Lingleville and other Erath volunteers) battling wildfires that have consumed thousands of acres this past week and continue to blaze.
The largest of these fires is the Eastland Complex Fire, which is actually seven separate fires that have joined to produce a large scale blaze that as of early Tuesday afternoon included 54,463 acres and was 30 percent contained.
A large fire known as the Big L was also burning between Bluff Dale and Tolar at press time and as of Tuesday afternoon, was 70 percent contained and included 10,366 acres. (It was reportedly 85 percent contained at the end of the day.)
The Eastland system includes the fires known as Kidd, Blowing Basin, Cedar Mountain, Oak Mott, Wheat Field, Mangum and Walling and has resulted in the destruction of more than 150 buildings, many of them in the Carbon community, which faced a devastating loss Thursday night as crews from around the area and state rushed to contain the spreading flames. Gorman also faced evacuation orders as the fire grew.
The Eastland Complex also claimed the life of Sgt. Barbara Fenley with the Eastland County Sheriff’s Office who was working to help evacuate residents from Carbon when her vehicle went off the roadway and was engulfed in flames.
Locally, the Dublin Chamber of Commerce and Church For the Lost and Found joined with generous locals in collecting supplies for the firefighters on the Eastland Complex’s frontlines. A trailer of supplies was also quickly filled in Stephenville after Erath County Emergency Coordinator Cyndi Smith sent a request for items.
The response was so fast and widespread that on Saturday, it was reported departments had no more need for donations, especially bottled water, which was abundantly provided.
The Andersen and Dummar families at Andermar Properties also cancelled a open house at the Shops at Grafton to open a pet-friendly shelter for any families fleeing the fire and unable to find a place to stay.
Dublin Livestock Auction was also traveling to the scene and assisting with livestock affected by the fire.
Four members of the Dublin VFD joined in the Eastland effort all day Friday and Saturday. This followed several fires at home that began with a grass fire Wednesday south of town on CR336 and CR338 that included a train car.
While the Eastland Complex fire was growing Thursday night, our local departments also responded to a grass fire at the DeBoer dairy near Lingleville.
Firefighters returned to the station at 1:30 a.m. Friday morning, but instead of getting some much deserved sleep, they set to repairing a broken pump by using pieces of three broken pumps they had available. This ‘MacGyyer’-level build session lasted until 5 a.m.
A truck with two hardworking volunteer firefighters headed to the Eastland complex and was on scene from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., when they were relieved by fellow DVFD members who were out there until 11 p.m. Volunteers returned the next day and continued to help.
The Dublin firefighters were quick to point out they were a small piece of the large-scale effort that included 400 apparatus including bulldozers, helicopters, road graders, airplanes, fire trucks and tankers.
DVFD member also called out all the volunteers who were assisting firefighters and making sure they got snacks and stayed hydrated.
“It was nice to see people come together and help a community that’s going through something like that,” said one of the DVFD members.
They also praised the dedication of trucks with tanks provided by businesses like GKB Cattle. Since the operators weren’t fully equipped, the firefighters left invaluable mop-up to these crews.
When asked if there was any difference in facing large scale fires, a volunteer who was at the scene said: “The pace is a little faster. Because the fire is so big, you want to be on top of it.”
DVFD members reported that the some of the biggest needs for those affected by the Eastland Complex will be replacing the feed and commodities burned. There will also be a need for fence repair as the speed of battling the fire often means that crews have to “blow through fences” rather than clipping them.
The DVFD and family members were treated to a free fried fish lunch at Andermar’s Grafton building Sunday afternoon in appreciation of their efforts this week and every day.
Some barely had enough time to eat before they had to travel out to fires in Erath County on CR108 near Huckabay and between Bluff Dale and Tolar (Big L).
Erath Emergency Management Coordinator Cyndi Smith reported on Tuesday that more than 11,000 acres were burned in large scale fires which drew the Texas A&M Forest Service into the county to assist and advise.
There were seven homes lost to the Big L Fire as of Tuesday and fires damaged and consumed other buildings. Smith reported there was no loss of life with two firefighters receiving treatment for minor injuries before being released.
Smith advised that these fires have been spurred by the high winds and dry conditions and although there was rainfall Monday, it was not enough to stop the dangerous conditions.
“We will have increased fire weather this weekend,” Smith said. “The air will dry out the moisture from this rainfall. No outdoor burning will be allowed at all. This includes welding. We are under a burn ban and we are taking it seriously. Tickets are going to be issued.”
Smith said that even though supplies aren’t being sought right now, gift cards can be provided to local fire departments to assist with expenses like tires, fuel and repairs.
Any gift cards dropped off at the Erath County Sheriff’s Office or mailed to her at 100 W. Washington will go to Erath families impacted by fire.
Dublin Volunteer Fire Department also can accept donations at P.O. Box 12, Dublin, TX 76446 or through Venmo: DVFD17.