20-Acre Grass Fire Battled on Friday

The Schulenburg Volunteer Fire Department battled a 20-plus acre grass fire on Friday afternoon, Oct. 3.

Schulenburg Fire Chief Darren Guentert said the fire spread from someone burning trash on property along County Line Rd. south of Schulenburg near the Fayette-Lavaca County Line.

“Due to the dry conditions and wind, it spread very fast,” the department said in a post on Facebook. “Our crews worked very hard on the south and west fire line to stop its progression into a large area of woods.”

Schulenburg VFD requested mutual aid from Flatonia Fire and Rescue and the Hallettsville Fire Department. They also requested aid from the Texas A&M Forest Service who sent out a crew through a program called Texas Intrastate Mutual Aid System. Agencies in that strike team consist of Austin Fire Dept, Lake Travis FD/Travis County ESD 6, Travis County ESD 1, Temple FD, and Killeen FD.

Fayette County EMS sent ambulances out to standby in case of any medical emergencies that arose. Fayette County Pct. 4 Road and Bridge Department also sent two water trucks.

“We would like to thank everyone that came out to assist this afternoon,” said the statement from Schulenburg VFD. “It’s not often that we have to call for help, but awesome to know we have such strong backup when we need it. Again thank you to all that came to assist. Please keep in mind that Fayette County as well as our surrounding counties are under a burn ban. This afternoon was a very stressful reminder of why.”