1 week Ago By Sarah Grunau
A widespread San Jacinto wildfire that officials say was ignited by a prescribed burn in the area was 45 percent contained by Friday morning. Montgomery County Fire Marshals Office crews observed no fire activity outside of the containment lines overnight, and weather conditions appear to be favorable on Friday to totally contain the blaze, Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough said. The Pauline Road fire first ignited Wednesday evening in the Sam Houston National Forest on the southwestern corner of San Jacinto County and prompted evacuations of more than 900 homes in the fire’s path.
Strong winds and low humidity exacerbated the flames on Thursday, when air tankers, dozers and around 140 firefighters worked through the night to contain the burn. RELATED: 2,000-acre San Jacinto wildfire 20 percent contained Thursday morning, officials say “They’ve got this thing batted down as long as the weather cooperates,” Precinct 4 Commissioner Matt Greg said during a press conference Thursday afternoon. The fire burned more than 2,300 acres in the area, according to Texas A&M Forest Service fire maps.
At least one home has been destroyed in the flames. A preliminary investigation into the fire conducted by the forest service determined that it may have been caused by a prescribed burn. “We’re not gonna release any information as far as to the names to the folks involved in that,” he said.
“I will say there’s an investigation surrounding the circumstances of that prescribed burn. Any potential criminal charges that come out of the investigation will be referred to the San Jacinto County District Attorney’s Office. Prescribed burns are regularly conducted by fire specialists in Texas forests in an effort to clear ground-level foliage and maintain healthy landscapes.
The burns are a cost-effective way to reduce fuel loading in the event of a large-scale wildfire. The Texas A&M Forest Service supports prescribed fires by training individuals. The forest service may notify nearby landowners if a controlled burn is being conducted.
Property owners living on national forest land may conduct burns on their property but must obtain required permits from local or state authorities if the burn is near or on the edge of the land. If a property owner allows a fire to escape onto forest land, the landowner may be billed for suppression and restoration costs and damages, according to the United States Department of Agriculture..
