A fire in Ranger, Texas, has destroyed buildings in the city’s historic downtown, including the police department and a 100-year-old church. A wildfire in Abilene has prompted evacuations of homes and properties. Smoke has reached as far as Houston. Texas A&M Forest Service spokesperson Erin O’Connor says the Abilene fire has been dubbed the Eastland Complex. It consists of four fires that are being managed as a single blaze by firefighters. “That includes the Kidd…

WFAA had crews in Eastland County late into the night and also early Friday morning, as fire crews battled to contain the sprawling fires. EASTLAND COUNTY, Texas — Wildfires in Eastland County had burned at least 40,000 acres by early Friday morning, and none of them had much containment as dry, windy conditions persisted.  WFAA had crews in Eastland County late into the night and also early Friday morning, as fire crews battled to contain…

March 18, 2022Updated: March 18, 2022 6:38 a.m. 1of11A family walks through smoke down the Arnold Blvd. frontage road after evacuating the Continental Villa mobile home park in Abilene, Texas Thursday March 17, 2022. A quickly-moving grass fire was heading that way, prompting officials to order the evacuation. (Ronald W. Erdrich/The Abilene Reporter-News via AP)Ronald W. Erdrich/APShow MoreShow Less 2of11Flames quickly spread through dry grass west of Abilene, Texas near Old Highway 80 Thursday, March 17,…

Low humidity and gusty winds spread wildfires across parts of West Texas on Thursday, scorching thousands of acres and torching homes and other structures. In Coleman, about 140 miles (225.31 kilometers) southwest of Fort Worth, the fire department said “multiple homes have been lost” and the Red Cross has been contacted to set up shelters. In Ranger, about 85 miles (136.79 kilometers) west of Fort Worth, multiple structures burned on the fringes of the business…

Evacuations have been ordered in Taylor, Eastland and Coleman counties Thursday afternoon. TEXAS, USA — UPDATE (8:20 p.m. March 17): At 7:44 p.m. the National Weather Service in Abilene and San Angelo lifted the evacuation order in Taylor County, including the City of Abilene.  UPDATE (7:20 p.m. March 17): The Texas Department of Public Safety has requested the closure of State Highway 153 in Runnels County from FM 503 to FM 2132, according to the Texas Department…