Up to 30 Vehicles Burned in Fire Last Week

The fire near FM 609 and Slo John Road last Friday destroyed two homes, two barns and up to 30 vehicles, including two fully restored classic cars.

Flatonia Fire Chief John Burleson told the Record on Monday that he had not yet calculated the cost of the damages, but he estimated it would at least amount to tens of thousands of dollars.

Burleson said his department received the call shortly before 4 p.m. last Friday, Jan. 15.

“The neighbor next door was burning a stump and apparently the wind picked up some embers and carried it across,” Burleson said.

Burleson said the Texas Forest Service estimated about 33 acres burned. Two single-wide mobile homes burned in the fire. Two brothers lived in one of the mobile homes. Burleson did not know whether the other home was occupied. The Red Cross was assisting the brothers who lost their home, he said.

Burleson said about 28 to 30 vehicles parked around the property burned in the fire. Some were in poor condition, he said. However, two fully restored classic cars parked in one of the barns were destroyed. Two tractors and some other farm equipment also burned in the fire.

Flatonia Fire and Rescue responded with 11 firefighters. Another 18 to 20 firefighters from La Grange, Muldoon and Schulenburg assisted. The Texas Forest Service also responded with a bulldozer, which was used to clear vegetation from around the burning area.

“It took us about three hours to put it out,” Burleson said. “Once the Forest Service was able to cut a perimeter we were able to get it under control.”

No one was injured. A press release from the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday said the fire remains under investigation.