Fire Sparks at Oil Well Site; 22 Acres Burn

A fast-moving grass fire near Ellinger consumed about 22 acres of pasture last Thursday, March 26.

Ellinger Volunteer Fire Department got the call around 10:51 a.m. reporting a grass fire near the intersection of FM 955 and Wecheta Rd. Ellinger Fire Chief Martin Spoelstra said the fire appeared to have started from an equipment malfunction at an oil well site on Wecheta Rd.

Firefighters from Ellinger, Fayetteville and La Grange were attending a training event at the nearby Fayette Power Project when the call came in. A crew from La Grange VFD came there in a grass truck. Spoelstra said he quickly accepted their offer to respond. Spoelstra also called for mutual aid from Fayetteville VFD.

The three departments sent five grass trucks, two tankers and a fire engine to the scene, along with 17 personnel. A strong east wind quickly swept flames across a field of knee-high grass. At one point the fire threatened to cross FM 955. The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office shut down the highway due to the thick smoke. Firefighters batted down the flames before it crossed the highway, though.

Fayette County EMS sent crews to the scene as well, but no one was injured. There was no major property damage. Spoelstra said the last units cleared the scene around 1:52 p.m.